Bis­[bis­(di­phenyl­phosphino­methyl)­phenyl­phosphine]­di­chloro­tetra­gold(I) bis­[chloro­tris­(penta­fluoro­phenyl)­aurate(III)]

The cation of the title compound, [Au₄(PPh₂CH₂PPhCH₂PPh₂)₂Cl₂][Au(C₆F₅)₃Cl]₂ or [Au₄Cl₂(C₃₂H₂₉P₃)₂][AuCl(C₆F₅)₃]₂, displays a rhomboidal geometry for the Au atoms, with short Au?Au distances of 3.104 (2) and 3.185 (1) Å; the linear coordination at the Au^I atoms is distorted: P—Au—P 164.7 (2)° and P—Au—Cl 170.67 (11)°. The anion shows the expected square‐planar geometry at Au^III, with the Au atom 0.022 (5) Å out of the plane of the four donor atoms.     

An Organogold(III) Difluoride with a trans Arrangement

The trans isomer of the organogold(III) difluoride complex [PPh₄][(CF₃)₂AuF₂] has been obtained in a stereoselective way and in excellent yield by reaction of [PPh₄][CF₃AuCF₃] with XeF₂ under mild conditions. The compound is both thermally stable and reactive. Thus, the fluoride ligands are stereospecifically replaced by any heavier halide or by cyanide, the cyanide affording [PPh₄][trans‐(CF₃)₂Au(CN)₂]. The organogold fluoride complexes [CF₃AuF_x]^? (x=1, 2, 3) have been experimentally detected to arise upon collision‐induced dissociation of the [trans‐(CF₃)₂AuF₂]^? anion in the gas phase. Their structures have been calculated by DFT methods. In the isomeric forms identified for the open‐shell species [CF₃AuF₂]^?, the spin density residing on the metal center is found to strongly depend on the precise stereochemistry. Based on crystallographic evidence, it is concluded that Auⁱⁱⁱ and Agⁱⁱⁱ have similar covalent radii, at least in their most common square‐planar geometry.     

The 3[ndσ*(n+1)pσ] Emissions of Linear Silver(I) and Gold(I) Chains with Bridging Phosphine Ligands

The complexes [Au₃(dcmp)₂][X]₃ {dcmp=bis(dicyclohexylphosphinomethyl)cyclohexylphosphine; X=Cl^? ( 1 ), ClO₄^? ( 2 ), OTf^? ( 3 ), PF₆^? ( 4 ), SCN^?( 5 )}, [Ag₃(dcmp)₂][ClO₄]₃ ( 6 ), and [Ag₃(dcmp)₂Cl₂][ClO₄] ( 7 ) were prepared and their structures were determined by X‐ray crystallography. Complexes 2 – 4 display a high‐energy emission band with λ_max at 442–452 nm, whereas 1 and 5 display a low‐energy emission with λ_max at 558–634 nm in both solid state and in dichloromethane at 298 K. The former is assigned to the ³[5dσ*6pσ] excited state of [Au₃(dcmp)₂]³⁺, whereas the latter is attributed to an exciplex formed between the ³[5dσ*6pσ] excited state of [Au₃(dcmp)₂]³⁺ and the counterions. In solid state, complex [Ag₃(dcmp)₂][ClO₄]₃ ( 6 ) displays an intense emission band at 375 nm with a Stokes shift of ≈7200 cm^?1 from the ¹[4dσ*→5pσ] absorption band at 295 nm. The 375 nm emission band is assigned to the emission directly from the ³[4dσ^*5pσ] excited state of 6 . Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the absorption and emission energies are inversely proportional to the number of metal ions (n) in polynuclear Au^I and Ag^I linear chain complexes without close metal???anion contacts. The emission energies are extrapolated to be 715 and 446 nm for the infinite linear Au^I and Ag^I chains, respectively, at metal???metal distances of about 2.93–3.02 Å. A QM/MM calculation on the model [Au₃(dcmp)₂Cl₂]⁺ system, with Au???Cl contacts of 2.90–3.10 Å, gave optimized Au???Au distances of 2.99–3.11 Å in its lowest triplet excited state and the emission energies were calculated to be at approximately 600–690 nm, which are assigned to a three‐coordinate Au^I site with its spectroscopic properties affected by Au^I???Au^I interactions.     

Front Cover: Safe Entry to Ag(I)/Ag(III) Mixed Valence Salts Containing the Homoleptic Ag(III) Anion [Ag(CF3)4]− (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 19/2023)

The synthesis of Naumann's Ag^I/Ag^III mixed valence salt [Ag^I]⁺[Ag^III(CF₃)₄]⁻ ( Ag-1 ) is revisited. Ag-1 is now safely available in half gram scale upon 2e⁻ oxidation of AgF in presence of CF₃SiMe₃ and ambient air. In addition to its unprecedented crystallographic characterization, the use of Ag-1 to build the novel Ag^I/Ag^III salts [ Ag (bpy)₂] -1 , [ Ag (18-crown-6)₂] -1 , [ Ag -crypt-222] -1 and [ Ag (PCy₃)₂] -1 is herein reported, alongside their characterization by NMR, single crystal X-ray diffraction (Sc-XRD) and elemental analysis (EA). The utility of the currently affordable Ag-1 in gold(I) catalysis was demonstrated by the excellent catalytic activity displayed by [{ Au (PPh₃)}₂(μ-Cl)] -1 and [ Au (PPh₃)] -1 in the 5-exo-dig cyclization of N-propargylbenzamide ( 2 ). These cationic Au^I catalysts are accessible from (PPh₃)AuCl and Ag-1 , and outperform the activity of the well-known benchmark catalyst (PPh₃)AuNTf₂.     

Coordination Behavior of a D‐Penicillaminato Aurate(I) Metalloligand Toward Coblat(III) Centers

Treatment of (NH₄)[Au(D‐Hpen‐S)₂](D‐H₂pen = D‐penicillamine) with CoCl₂·6H₂O in an acetate buffer solution, followed by air oxidation, gave neutral Au^ICo^III and anionic Au^I₃Co^III₂ polynuclear complexes, [Au₃Co₃(D‐pen‐N,O,S)₆]([ 1 ]) and [Au₃Co₂(D‐pen‐N,S)₆]^3? ([ 2 ]^3?), which were separated by anion‐exchange column chromatography. Complexes [ 1 ] and [ 2 ]^3? each formed a single isomer, and their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. In [ 1 ], each of three [Au(D‐pen‐S)₂]^3?metalloligands coordinates to two Co^III ions in a bis‐tridentate‐N,O,S mode to form a cyclic Au^I₃Co^III₃ hexanuclear structure, in which three [Co(D‐pen‐N,O,S)₂]^? octahedral units and six bridging S atoms adopt trans(O) geometrical and R chiral configurations, respectively. In [ 2 ]^3?, each of three [Au(D‐pen‐S)₂]^3? metalloligands coordinates to two Co^III ions in a bis‐bidentate‐N,S mode to form a Au^I₃Co^III₂ pentanuclear structure, in which two [Co(D‐pen‐N,S)₃]^3? units and six bridging S atoms adopt ∧ and R chiral configurations, respectively.     

Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Gold Halide Perovskites: Structural Diversity through Cation Size

Crystal structures of a series of organic–inorganic hybrid gold iodide perovskites, formulated as A₂[Au^II₂][Au^IIII₄] [A=methylammonium (MA) ( 1 ) and formamidinium (FA) ( 2 )], A′₂[I₃]_1−x[Au^II₂]_x[Au^IIII₄] [A′=imidazolium (IMD) ( 3 ), guanidinium (GUA) ( 4 ), dimethylammonium (DMA) ( 5 ), pyridinium (PY) ( 6 ), and piperizinium (PIP) ( 7 )], systematically changed depending on the cation size. In addition, triiodide (I₃⁻) ions were partly incorporated into the AuI₂⁻ sites of 3 – 7 , whereas they were not incorporated into those of 1 and 2 . Such a difference comes from the size of the organic cation. Optical absorption spectra showed characteristic intervalence charge-transfer bands from Au^I to Au^III species, and the optical band gap increased as the size of the cation became larger.     

Bond stretching and redox behavior in coinage metal complexes of the dichalcogenide dianions [(SPh2P)2CEEC(PPh2S)2]2- (E=S, Se): diradical character of the dinuclear copper(I) complex (E=S)

The metathetical reactions of a) [Li(tmeda)]₂[(S)C(PPh₂S)₂] (Li₂? 3 c ) with CuCl₂ and b) [Li(tmeda)]₂[(SPh₂P)₂CSSC(PPh₂S)₂] (Li₂? 4 c ) with two equivalents of CuCl both afford the binuclear Cu^I complex {Cu₂[(SPh₂P)₂CSSC(PPh₂S)₂]} ( 5 c ). The elongated (C)S? S(C) bond (ca. 2.54 and 2.72 Å) of the dianionic ligand observed in the solid‐state structure of 5 c indicate the presence of diradical character as supported by theoretical analyses. The treatment of [Li(tmeda)]₂[(SPh₂P)₂CSeSeC(PPh₂S)₂] (Li₂? 4 b ) and Li₂? 4 c with AgOSO₂CF₃ produce the analogous Ag^I derivatives, {Ag₂[(SPh₂P)₂CEEC(PPh₂S)₂]} ( 6 b , E=Se; 6 c , E=S), respectively. The diselenide complex 6 b exhibits notably weaker Ag? Se(C) bonds than the corresponding contacts in the Cu^I congeners, and the ³¹P NMR data suggest a possible isomerization in solution. In contrast to the metathesis observed for Cu^I and Ag^I reagents, the reactions of Li₂? 4 b and Li₂? 4 c with Au(CO)Cl involve a redox process in which the dimeric dichalcogenide ligands are reduced to the corresponding monomeric dianions, [(E)C(PPh₂S)₂]^2? ( 3 b , E=Se; 3 c , E=S), and one of the gold centers is oxidized to generate the mixed‐valent Au^I/Au^III complexes, {Au[(E)C(PPh₂S)₂]}₂ ( 7 b , E=Se; 7 c , E=S), with relatively strong aurophilic Au^I???Au^III interactions. The new compounds 5 c , 6 b , c and 7 b , c are characterized in solution by NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X‐ray crystallography ( 5 c , 6 b , 7 b and 7 c ) and by Raman spectroscopy ( 5 c and 6 c ). The UV‐visible spectra of coinage metal complexes of the type 5 , 6 and 7 are discussed in the light of results from theoretical analyses using time‐dependent density functional theory.     

Formation,Expansion, and Interconversion of Metallarings in a Sulfur‐Bridged AuICoIII Coordination System

A novel Au^ICo^III coordination system that is derived from the newly prepared [Co(D ‐nmp)₂]^? ( 1 ^?; D ‐nmp=N‐methyl‐D ‐penicillaminate) and a gold(I) precursor Au^I is reported. Complex 1 ^? acts as a sulfur‐donating metallaligand and reacts with the gold(I) precursor to give [Au₂Co₂(D ‐nmp)₄] ( 2 ), which has an eight‐membered Au^I₂Co^III₂ metallaring. Treatment of 2 with [Au₂(dppe)₂]²⁺ (dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) leads to the formation of [Au₄Co₂(dppe)₂(D ‐nmp)₄]²⁺ ( 3 ²⁺), which consists of an 18‐membered Au^I₄Co^III₂ metallaring that accommodates a tetrahedral anion (BF₄^?, ClO₄^?, ReO₄^?). In solution, the metallaring structure of 3 ²⁺ is readily interconvertible with the nine‐membered Au^I₂Co^III metallaring structure of [Au₂Co(dppe)(D ‐nmp)₂]⁺ ( 4 ⁺); this process depends on external factors, such as solvent, concentration, and nature of the counteranion. These results reveal the lability of the Au? S and Au? P bonds, which is essential for metallaring expansion and contraction.     

Hexanuclear Gold(I) Phosphide Complexes as Platforms for Multiple Redox‐Active Ferrocenyl Units

The synthesis, X‐ray crystal structures, electrochemical, and spectroscopic studies of a series of hexanuclear gold(I) μ₃‐ferrocenylmethylphosphido complexes stabilized by bridging phosphine ligands, [Au₆(P?P)_n(Fc‐CH₂‐P)₂][PF₆]₂ (n=3, P?P=dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) ( 1 ), dppe (1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) ( 2 ), dppp (1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) ( 3 ), Ph₂PN(C₃H₇)‐PPh₂ ( 4 ), Ph₂PN(Ph‐CH₃‐p)PPh₂ ( 5 ), dppf (1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) ( 6 ); n=2, P?P=dpepp (bis(2‐diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine) ( 7 )), as platforms for multiple redox‐active ferrocenyl units, are reported. The investigation of the structural changes of the clusters has been probed by introducing different bridging phosphine ligands. This class of gold(I) μ₃‐ferrocenylmethylphosphido complexes has been found to exhibit one reversible oxidation couple, suggestive of the absence of electronic communication between the ferrocene units through the Au₆P₂ cluster core, providing an understanding of the electronic properties of the hexanuclear Au^I cluster linkage. The present complexes also serve as an ideal system for the design of multi‐electron reservoir and molecular battery systems.     

[Au(C6F5)3(PPh2H)]: A Precursor for the Synthesis of Gold(III) Phosphide Complexes

The covalent radius of Au ^I is about 0.07 Å smaller than that of Ag^I. This was determined from the crystal structures of the isostructural complexes [N(PPh₃)][{Au(C₆F₅)₃(μ-PPh₂)}₂M] (M=Au (structure shown in the picture), Ag). These mixed Au^III–M phosphides were synthesized from [Au(C₆F₅)₃(PPh₂H)], the first gold complex to contain a secondary phosphane.     

A hexanuclear gold carbonyl cluster

The hexanuclear gold carbonyl cluster [PPh₄]₂[Au₆(CF₃)₆Br₂(CO)₂] (4) has been obtained by spontaneous self-assembly of the following independent units: CF₃AuCO (1) and [PPh₄][Br(AuCF₃)₂] (3). The cyclo-Au₆ aggregate 4, in which the components are held together by unassisted, fairly strong aurophilic interactions (Au···Au ∼310 pm), exhibits a cyclohexane-like arrangement with chair conformation. These aurophilic interactions also result in significant ν(CO) lowering: from 2194 cm^–1 in the separate component 1 to 2171 cm^–1 in the mixed aggregate 4. Procedures to prepare the single-bridged dinuclear component 3 as well as the mononuclear derivative [PPh₄][CF₃AuBr] (2) are also reported.     

Formation of the Salt‐like Complexes [Co{S2CC(PPh3)2}3][Co(CO)4]3 and [(CO)4Mn{S2CC(PPh3)2}][Mn(CO)5] from the Reaction of the Related Carbonyl Compounds with S2CC(PPh3)2

The betain‐like compound S₂CC(PPh₃)₂ ( 1 ), which is obtained from CS₂ and the double ylide C(PPh₃)₂, reacts with [Co₂(CO)₈] and [Mn₂(CO)₁₀] in THF to afford the salt‐like complexes [Co{S₂CC(PPh₃)₂}₃][Co(CO)₄]₃ ( 2 ) and [(CO)₄Mn{S₂CC(PPh₃)₂}][Mn(CO)₅] ( 3 ), respectively, in good yields. At both d⁶ cations 1 acts as a chelating ligand. Disproportionation reactions from formal Co⁰ into Co^III and Co^?I and from Mn⁰ into Mn^I and Mn^?I occurred with the removal of four or one carbonyl groups, respectively. The crystal structures of 2· 5.5THF and 3· 2THF are reported, which show a shortening of the C–C bond in the ligand upon complex formation. The compounds are further characterized by ³¹P NMR and IR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and Catalytic Use of Gold(I) Complexes Containing a Hemilabile Phosphanylferrocene Nitrile Donor

Removal of the chloride ligand from [AuCl( 1 ‐κP)] ( 2 ) containing a P‐monodentate 1′‐(diphenylphosphanyl)‐1‐cyanoferrocene ligand ( 1 ), by using silver(I) salts affords cationic complexes of the type [Au( 1 )]X, which exist either as cyclic dimers [Au( 1 )]₂X₂ ( 3 a , X=SbF₆; 3 c , X=NTf₂) or linear coordination polymers [Au( 1 )]_nX_n ( 3 a′ , X=SbF₆; 3 b′ , X=ClO₄), depending on anion X and the isolation procedure. As demonstrated for 3 a′ , the polymers can be readily cleaved by the addition of donors, such as Cl^?, tetrahydrothiophene (tht) or 1 , giving rise to the parent compound 2 , [Au(tht)( 1 ‐κP)][SbF₆] ( 5 a ) or [Au( 1 ‐κP)₂][SbF₆] ( 4 a ), respectively, of which the last two compounds can also be prepared by stepwise replacement of tht in [Au( 1 ‐κP)₂][SbF₆]. The particular combination of a firmly coordinated (phosphane) and a dissociable (nitrile) donor moieties renders complexes 3/3′ attractive for catalysis because they can serve as shelf‐stable precursors of coordinatively unsaturated Au^I fragments, analogous to those that result from the widely used [Au(PR₃)(RCN)]X catalysts. The catalytic properties of the Au‐ 1 complexes were evaluated in model annulation reactions, such as the synthesis of 2,3‐dimethylfuran from (Z)‐3‐methylpent‐2‐en‐4‐yn‐1‐ol and oxidative cyclisation of alkynes with nitriles to produce 2,5‐disubstituted 1,3‐oxazoles. Of the compounds tested ( 2 , 3 a′ , 3 b′ , 3 a , 4 a and 5 a ), the best results were consistently achieved with dimer 3 c , which has good solubility in organic solvents and only one firmly bound donor at the gold atom. This compound was advantageously used in the key steps of annuloline and rosefuran syntheses.     

Reaction of S2CC(PPh3)2 with Silver Salts Containing Weakly Coordinating Anions; Preparation and Crystal Structures of [Ag6{S2CC(PPh3)2}4][BF4]6 · 9.75CH2CL2 and [Ag4{S2CC(PPh3)2}4][Al{OC(CF3)3}4]4 · 4.25C2H4Cl2

The betain‐like carbodiphosphorane CS₂ adduct S₂CC(PPh₃)₂ ( 1 ) reacts with Ag(I) salts which contain weakly coordinating anions such as [BF₄]^? or [Al{OC(CF₃)₃}₄]^? to produce the cluster compounds [Ag₆{S₂CC(PPh₃)₂}₄][BF₄]₆ ( 2 ) and [Ag₄{S₂CC(PPh₃)₂}₄][Al{OC(CF₃)₃}₄]₄ ( 3 ), respectively, as orange yellow crystals containing solvent molecules. In the solid state the Ag₄ unit in 3 forms a tetrahedron, and in the Ag₆ core of 2 two of the opposite edges of the tetrahedron are bridged by Ag⁺ ions. The clusters are held together by argentophilic interactions, and each sulfur atom of 1 is coordinated to four (as in 2 ) or three (as in 3 ) silver atoms. The compounds are characterized by IR and ³¹P NMR spectroscopic studies and by X‐ray diffraction analyses.     

Highly trifluoromethylated platinum compounds

The homoleptic, square‐planar organoplatinum(II) compound [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₄] ( 1 ) undergoes oxidative addition of CF₃I under mild conditions to give rise to the octahedral organoplatinum(IV) complex [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₅I] ( 2 ). This highly trifluoromethylated species reacts with Ag⁺ salts of weakly coordinating anions in Me₂CO under a wet‐air stream to afford the aquo derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₅(OH₂)] ( 4 ) in around 75 % yield. When the reaction of 2 with the same Ag⁺ salts is carried out in MeCN, the solvento compound [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₅(NCMe)] ( 5 ) is obtained in around 80 % yield. The aquo ligand in 4 as well as the MeCN ligand in 5 are labile and can be cleanly replaced by neutral and anionic ligands to furnish a series of pentakis(trifluoromethyl)platinate(IV) compounds with formulae [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₅(L)] (L=CO ( 6 ), pyridine (py; 7 ), tetrahydrothiophene (tht; 8 )) and [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₅X] (X=Cl ( 9 ), Br ( 10 )). The unusual carbonyl–platinum(IV) derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₅(CO)] ( 6 ) is thermally stable and has a ν_CO of 2194 cm^?1. The crystal structures of 2? CH₂Cl₂, 5 , [PPh₄][Pt(CF₃)₅(CO)] ( 6′ ), and 7 have been established by X‐ray diffraction methods. Compound 2 has shown itself to be a convenient entry to the chemistry of highly trifluoromethylated platinum compounds. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 2 and 4 – 10 are the organoelement compounds with the highest CF₃ content to have been isolated and adequately characterized to date.     

Stepwise Degradation of Trifluoromethyl Platinum(II) Compounds

The action of moisture on the homoleptic organoplatinum(II) compound [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₄] ( 1 ) gives rise to the carbonyl derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₃(CO)] ( 2 ), which is itself moisture stable. However, treatment of compound 2 with HCl(aq) results in the formation of [NBu₄][cis‐Pt(CF₃)₂Cl(CO)] ( 3 ), which undergoes degradation of an additional CF₃ group by further treatment with HCl(aq) in large excess, affording [NBu₄][cis‐Pt(CF₃)Cl₂(CO)] ( 4 ). The carbonyl derivatives 2 – 4 are fairly stable species, in which the CO ligand, however, can be readily extruded by reaction with trimethylamine N‐oxide (ONMe₃). Thus, compound 2 reacts with ONMe₃ in the presence of a number of neutral or anionic ligands affording a series of singly or doubly charged derivatives with the general formulae [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₃(L)] [L=CNtBu ( 5 ), PPh₃ ( 6 ), P(o‐tolyl)₃ ( 7 ), tht ( 8 ; tht=tetrahydrothiophene)] and [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₃X] [X=Cl ( 9 ), Br ( 10 ), I ( 11 )], respectively. Compound 2 also reacts with ONMe₃ and pyridin‐2‐thiol (C₅H₅NS) giving rise to the five‐membered metallacyclic derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₂(CF₂NC₅H₄S‐κC,κS)] ( 12 ), which can be viewed as a difluorocarbene species stabilized by intramolecular base coordination. On the other hand, treatment of compound 3 with ONMe₃ in the presence of C₅H₅NS yields the four‐membered metallacyclic compound [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₂(NC₅H₄S‐κN,κS)] ( 13 ). The geometries of the metallacycles in compounds 12 and 13 are compared. In the absence of any additional ligand, compound 3 undergoes dimerization producing the dinuclear species [NBu₄]₂[{Pt(CF₃)₂}₂(μ‐Cl)₂] ( 14 ). Halide abstraction in the latter compound with AgClO₄ in THF yields the solvento compound cis‐[Pt(CF₃)₂(thf)₂] ( 15 ). The highly labile character of the THF ligands in compound 15 makes this species a convenient synthon of the “cis‐Pt(CF₃)₂” unit.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Intercluster Compounds Consisting of Various Gold Clusters and Differently Charged Keggin Anions

The crystal structures of five intercluster compounds consisting of gold clusters and Keggin anions have been determined by single‐crystal x‐ray diffraction: [Au₉(PPh₃)₈][PMo₁₂O₄₀] (P4/n, Z = 2, a = 24.0195(13), c = 13.6818(10) Å), [Au₉(PPh₃)₈][HSiMo₁₂O₄₀] (P4/n, Z = 2, a = 24.270(3), c = 13.752(2) Å), [Au₉(PPh₃)₈][H₃CoW₁₂O₄₀] (P4/n, Z = 2, a = 24.4776(16), c = 13.7759(13) Å), [Au₈(PPh₃)₈]₂[SiMo₁₂O₄₀] (Pbca, Z = 4, a = 36.269(4), b = 24.488(3), c = 38.612(4) Å) and (nBu₄N)[Au₉(Ptol₃)₈][SiMo₁₂O₄₀] (Cc, Z = 4, a = 24.832(5), b = 24.955(5), c = 40.096(8) Å, β = 106.744(3)°). In these compounds, the charges of the building blocks were varied. Altering the charge on the Keggin anion in combination with the [Au₉(PPh₃)₈]³⁺ cluster gave rise to isostructural compounds as the charge is compensated by protonation of the polyoxometalate anion. Varying the charge or the ligand type of the gold cluster led to compounds with a completely different packing principle.     

Ring‐to‐Cage Structural Conversion via Template Effect in a Gold(I) Metallosupramolecular System

A unique example of a ring‐to‐cage structural conversion in a multinuclear gold(I) coordination system with d ‐penicillamine (d ‐H₂pen) is reported. The reaction of [Au₂Cl₂(dppe)] (dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) with d ‐H₂pen in a 1:1 ratio gave [Au₄(dppe)₂(d ‐pen)₂] ([ 1 ]), in which two [Au₂(dppe)]²⁺ units are linked by two d ‐pen S atoms in a cyclic form so as to have two bidentate‐N,O coordination arms. The subsequent reaction of [ 1 ] with Cu(OTf)₂ afforded [Au₄Cu(dppe)₂(d ‐pen)₂]²⁺ ([ 2 ]²⁺), in which a Cu^II ion is chelated by the two coordination arms in [ 1 ] to form an Au^I₄Cu^II bicyclic metallocage. A similar reaction using Cu(NO₃)₂ was accompanied by the ring expansion of [ 1 ] to [Au₈(dppe)₄(d ‐pen)₄], leading to the production of [Au₈Cu₂(dppe)₄(d ‐pen)₄]⁴⁺ ([ 3 ]⁴⁺). In [ 3 ]⁴⁺, two Cu^II ions are each chelated by the two coordination arms to form an Au^I₈Cu^II₂ tricyclic metallocage, accommodating a nitrate ion. The use of Ni(NO₃)₂ or Ni(OAc)₂ instead of Cu(NO₃)₂ commonly gave a tricyclic metallocage of [Au₈Ni₂(dppe)₄(d ‐pen)₄]⁴⁺ ([ 4 ]⁴⁺), but a water molecule was accommodated inside the Au^I₈Ni^II₂ metallocage.     

Gold Complexes with Difunctional Perfluoroalkyl Chains: Quantifying the Energy of Aurophilic Interactions in Flexible Open-Chain Complexes

The first binuclear Au^I compounds containing bridging (CF₂)_n chains (n=4, 6, 8) and Au^III metallaperfluorocyclopentanes have been obtained by photoinitiated reactions of LAuMe (L=PPh₃, PMe₃, PCy₃, or IPr) with α,ω-diiodoperfluorocarbons. Complexes LAu(CF₂)₄AuL present an unusual looped structure stabilized by an aurophilic interaction for L=PMe₃, PPh₃, and PCy₃. The study of their dynamic behaviour has provided new insights about the strength of aurophilic interactions in solution, allowing quantification of the energy of a single Au⋅⋅⋅Au interaction.     

Gold Complexes with Difunctional Perfluoroalkyl Chains: Quantifying the Energy of Aurophilic Interactions in Flexible Open‐Chain Complexes

The first binuclear Au^I compounds containing bridging (CF₂)_n chains (n=4, 6, 8) and Au^III metallaperfluorocyclopentanes have been obtained by photoinitiated reactions of LAuMe (L=PPh₃, PMe₃, PCy₃, or IPr) with α,ω‐diiodoperfluorocarbons. Complexes LAu(CF₂)₄AuL present an unusual looped structure stabilized by an aurophilic interaction for L=PMe₃, PPh₃, and PCy₃. The study of their dynamic behaviour has provided new insights about the strength of aurophilic interactions in solution, allowing quantification of the energy of a single Au???Au interaction.