Stable gold(III) complexes with thiosemicarbazone derivatives

Novel thiosemicarbazonato complexes of gold(III) have been prepared from reactions of [Au(damp-C1,N)Cl2(damp- = 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl) or [NBu4][AuCl4] with 2-pyridineformamide thiosemicarbazones (HL). The thiosemicarbazones deprotonate and coordinate as mononegative, tridentate NNS ligands to gold to give [Au(Hdamp-C1)(L)]Cl2 or [AuCl(L)]Cl complexes. The organometallic damp- ligand is protonated during the reactions and the Au-N bond is cleaved. The [AuCl(L)]+ cations represent the first gold(III) complexes with thiourea derivatives which are not stabilised by an additional organometallic ligand. Reactions of [NBu4][AuX4](X = Cl, Br) with diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone) result in reduction of the metal and the formation of gold(I) complexes of the composition [AuX(SCN4-3,4-Ph2)] where SCN4-3,4-Ph2 is 3,4-diphenyltetrazole thione which is formed from cyclisation of dithizone.     

Gold and silver complexes with the ferrocenyl phosphine FcCH2PPh2

Linear gold(I) and silver(I) complexes with the ferrocenyl phosphine FcCH2PPh2 [Fc = (eta5-C5H5)Fe(eta5-C5H4)] of the types [AuR(PPh2CH2Fc)], [M(PPh3)(PPh2CH2Fc)]OTf, and [M(PPh2CH2Fc)2]OTf (M = Au, Ag) have been obtained. Three-coordinate gold(I) and silver(I) derivatives of the types [AuCl(PPh2CH2Fc)2] and [M(PPh2CH2Fc)3]X (M = Au, X = ClO4; M = Ag, X = OTf) have been obtained from the corresponding gold and silver precursors in the appropriate molar ratio, although some of them are involved in equilibria in solution. The crystal structures of [AuR(PPh2CH2Fc)] (R = Cl, C6F5), [AuL(PPh2CH2Fc)]OTf (L = PPh3, FcCH2PPh2), [Au(C6F5)3(PPh2CH2Fc)], and [Ag(PPh2CH2Fc)3]OTf have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Mononuclear, dinuclear, and hexanuclear goldI complexes with (aza-15-crown-5)dithiocarbamate

The reactions of sodium (aza-15-crown-5)dithiocarbamate with [AuClL] precursors lead to mono-, di-, or hexanuclear derivatives depending on L. The homoleptic hexanuclear gold(I) cluster [Au6(S2CNC10H20O4)6] is formed by displacement of the chloride and isocyanide ligands in [AuCl(CN(2,6-Me2C6H3))]. X-ray diffraction studies show a novel geometry in gold cluster chemistry where the six gold atoms display a cyclohexane-like geometry in a chair conformation with Au-Au-Au angles of 117.028(9) degrees, two short gold-gold distances of 2.9289(5) A, and bidentate bridging dithiocarbamate ligands. The molecular structure shows a crown of gold atoms surrounded by crown ethers. This derivative luminesces at 569 nm at room temperature in the solid state. A dinuclear isomer [Au2(S2CNC10H20O4)2] had been reported previously and was obtained by reaction with [AuCl(SMe2)]. The mechanism to obtain the hexanuclear derivative involves a mononuclear intermediate [Au(S2CNC10H20O4)(CNR)] for which the X-ray structure shows a short gold-gold distance of 3.565 A with the two molecules in an anti configuration. Phosphine gold(I) mononuclear derivatives [Au(S2CNC10H20O4)(PR3)] (R = Me, Ph, both characterized by X-ray diffraction) and dinuclear diphosphine derivatives [{Au(S2CNC10H20O4)}2(mu-P-P)] (P-P = dppm, bis(diphenylphosphinomethane); dppp, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphinopropane); and dppf, 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphinoferrocene)) are also reported. In the mononuclear complexes, the molecular structure confirms that the dithiocarbamato ligand is mainly acting as monodentate, with a second longer Au-S distance of 3.197 (PMe3), 2.944(4) (PPh3), and 2.968 A (CNR). Three phosphine complexes are emissive at 562 (PMe3), 528 (PPh3), and 605 nm (dppm), at 77 K. X-ray diffraction studies of the dppm derivative show gold-gold intramolecular contacts of 3.0972(9) A (3.2265(10) A for a second independent molecule) and basically monodentate coordination of the dithiocarbamato ligands. All the complexes extract sodium and potassium salts from aqueous solutions. The diphosphine derivatives are noticeably better extractors than the monophosphino derivatives, mainly for potassium salts.     

Unprecedented formation of novel phosphonodithioate ligands from diferrocenyldithiadiphosphetane disulfide

The reaction of the phosphetane disulfide, FcP(S)S 2P(S)Fc ( 1) (Fc = (eta (5)-C 5H 5)Fe(eta (5)-C 5H 4)), the ferrocenyl analogue of the Lawesson reagent, with gold and palladium complexes leads to the unprecedented formation of phosphonodithioate ligands upon coordination to the metal centers. The reaction of 1 with gold complexes such as [AuCl(PR 3)] affords the species [Au{S 2P(OH)Fc}(PR 3)] (PR 3 = PPh 3 ( 2), PPh 2Me ( 3)), in which the phosphonodithioate ligand Fc(OH)PS 2 (-) has been formed. The same ligand is present in the compound [Au 2{S 2P(OH)Fc} 2].[N(PPh 3) 2]Cl ( 4), obtained by reaction of 1 with [N(PPh 3) 2][AuCl 2]. It crystallizes with one molecule of [N(PPh 3) 2]Cl, whereby complex 4 acts as an anion receptor and forms strong hydrogen bonds between the chloro and the hydroxyl groups. The reaction with palladium derivatives is different; two complexes, [Pd 2(S 4OP 2Fc 2) 2] ( 5) and [Pd 4Cl 4(S 4OP 2Fc 2) 2] ( 6), are obtained in molar ratio 2:1 and 1:1, respectively. In these complexes a new phosphonodithioate ligand is present and probably arises from the condensation of two molecules of Fc(OH)PS 2 (-). Complex 5 has also been characterized by X-ray methods.     

The first acetimine gold(I) and gold(III) complexes and the first acetonine complexes

Ketimino(phosphino)gold(I) complexes of the type [Au[NR=C(Me)R']L]X (X = ClO4, R = H, L = PPh3, R'=Me (la), Et (2a); L=PAr3 (Ar=C6H4OMe-4), R'=Me (1b), Et (2b); L=PPh3, R=R'=Me (3); X= CF3SO3 (OTf), L=PPh3, R=R'=Me (3'); R=Ar, R'=Me (4)) have been prepared from [Au(acac)L] (acac = acetyl acetonate) and ammonium salts [RNH3]X dissolved in the appropriate ketone MeC(O)R'. Complexes [Au(NH=CMe2)2]X (X = C1O4 (6), OTf (6')) were obtained from solutions of [Au(NH3)2]X in acetone. The reaction of 6 with PPN[AuCl2] or with PhICl2 gave [AuCl(NH=CMe2)] (7) or [AuCI2(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 (8), respectively. Complex 7 was oxidized with PhICl2 to give [AuCl3(NH=CMe2)] (9). The reaction of [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene), NaClO4, and ammonia in acetone gave [Au(acetonine)2]ClO4 (10) (acetonine = 2,2,4,4,6-pentamethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyrimidine) which reacted with PPh3 or with PPN[AuCl2] to give [Au(PPh3)(acetonine)]ClO4 (11) or [AuCl(acetonine)] (12), respectively. Complex 11 reacts with [Au(PPh3)(Me2CO)]ClO4 to give [(AuPPh3)2(mu-acetonine)](ClO4)2 (13). The reaction of AgClO4 with acetonine gave [Ag(acetonine)(OClO3)] (14). The crystal structures of [Au(NH2Ar)(PPh3)]OTf (5), 6' and 10 have been determined.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and theoretical studies of gold(I) and gold(I)-gold(III) thiolate complexes: quenching of gold(I) thiolate luminescence

The gold(I) thiolate complexes [Au(2-SC6H4NH2)(PPh3)] (1), [PPN][Au(2-SC6H4NH2)2] (2) (PPN = PPh3=N=PPh3), and [{Au(2-SC6H4NH2)}2(mu-dppm)] (3) (dppm = PPh2CH2PPh2) have been prepared by reaction of acetylacetonato gold(I) precursors with 2-aminobenzenethiol in the appropriate molar ratio. All products are intensely photoluminescent at 77 K. The molecular structure of the dinuclear derivative 3 displays a gold-gold intramolecular contact of 3.1346(4) A. Further reaction with the organometallic gold(III) complex [Au(C6F5)3(tht)] affords dinuclear or tetranuclear mixed gold(I)-gold(III) derivatives with a thiolate bridge, namely, [(AuPPh3){Au(C6F5)3}(mu2-2-SC6H4NH2)] (4) and [(C6F5)3Au(mu2-2-SC6H4NH2)(AudppmAu)(mu2-2-SC(6)H4NH2)Au(C6F5)3] (5). X-ray diffraction studies of the latter show a shortening of the intramolecular gold(I)-gold(I) contact [2.9353(7) or 2.9332(7) A for a second independent molecule], and short gold(I)-gold(III) distances of 3.2812(7) and 3.3822(7) A [or 3.2923(7) and 3.4052(7) A] are also displayed. Despite the gold-gold interactions, the mixed derivatives are nonemissive compounds. Therefore, the complexes were studied by DFT methods. The HOMOs and LUMOs for gold(I) derivatives 1 and 3 are mainly centered on the thiolate and phosphine (or the second thiolate for complex 2), respectively, with some gold contributions, whereas the LUMO for derivative 4 is more centered on the gold(III) fragment. TD-DFT results show a good agreement with the experimental UV-vis absorption and excitation spectra. The excitations can be assigned as a S --> Au-P charge transfer with some mixture of LLCT for derivative 1, an LLCT mixed with ILCT for derivative 2, and a S --> Au...Au-P charge transfer with LLCT and MC for derivative 3. An LMCT (thiolate --> Au(III) mixed with thiolate --> Au-P) excitation was found for derivative 4. The differing nature of the excited states [participation of the gold(III) fragment and the small contribution of sulfur] is proposed to be responsible for quenching the luminescence.     

Aurophilicity in gold(I) thiosemicarbazone clusters

The reaction of the phosphine thiosemicarbazone ligands HLPH and HLPMe with Au(I) ions yields the gold complexes [Au(3)(HLPH)(2)Cl(2)]Cl·2MeOH (1·2MeOH) and [Au(2)(HLPMe)Cl(2)] (2). The structures determined by X Ray diffraction, [Au(3)(HLPH)(2)Cl(2)]Cl·4MeOH (1·4MeOH) and [Au(2)(HLPMe)Cl(2)](2) (2), are the first examples of gold(I) thiosemicarbazone clusters showing aurophilicity. The structure of the trinuclear cation 1 contains the Au(1) atom located in an inversion centre, being connected to another gold(I) atom, Au(2), through a phosphino thiosemicarbazone molecule which acts as a S,P-bridging ligand. Additionally, every gold(I) atom in the trinuclear cation 1 assembles into trinuclear linear cluster units by means of close gold-gold interactions, being connected through the crystal cell in a 2D zigzag mode. The crystal structure of [Au(2)(HLPMe)Cl(2)](2) (2) contains one discrete molecule [(AuCl)(2)(HLPMe)] in the asymmetric unit, which is further assembled into tetranuclear [(AuCl)(2)(HLPMe)](2) units by means of close gold-gold interactions. Both clusters are highly luminescent in solution.     

Synthesis and structure of tetranuclear orthometallated Pd(II) complexes derived from bis-iminophosphoranes

The reaction of Pd(OAc)2 with bis-iminophosphoranes Ph3P=NCH2CH2CH2N=PPh3 (1a), [C6H4(C(O)N=PPh3)2-1,3] (1b) and [C6H4(C(O)N=PPh3)2-1,2] (1c), gives the orthopalladated tetranuclear complexes [{Pd(mu-Cl){C6H4(PPh2=NCH2-kappa-C,N)-2}}2CH2]2 (2a) [{Pd(mu-OAc){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',3']2 (2b) and [{Pd(mu-OAc){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',2']2 (2c). The reaction takes place in CH2Cl2 for 1a, but must be performed in glacial acetic acid for 1b and 1c. The process implies in all cases the activation of a C-H bond on a Ph ring of the phosphonium group, with concomitant formation of endo complexes. This is the expected behaviour for 1a, but for 1b and 1c reverses the exo orientation observed in other ketostabilized iminophosphoranes. The influence of the solvent in the orientation of the reaction is discussed. The dinuclear acetylacetonate complexes [{Pd(acac-O,O'){C6H4(PPh2=NCH2-kappa-C,N)-2}}2CH2] (3a), [{Pd(acac-O,O'){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',3'] (3b) and [{Pd(acac-O,O'){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',2'] (3c) have been obtained from the halide-bridging tetranuclear derivatives. The X-ray crystal structure of [3c.4CHCl3] is also reported.     

Two-, three-, and four-coordination at gold(I) supported by the bidentate selenium ligand [Ph2P(Se)NP(Se)Ph2](-)

Treatment of the gold(I) halide complexes LAuCl (L = PMe3, PPh3, CNC6H3Me2-2,6) with K[Ph2P(Se)NP(Se)Ph2] provides the gold-selenium coordination compounds [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')AuL]. However, on standing for a number of days, the complex [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')AuPMe3] gains a phosphine to provide the bis(phosphine) species [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')Au(PMe3)2]. Treatment of the K[Ph2P(Se)NP(Se)Ph2] ligand with [(Ph3PAu)3O]BF4 allows the isolation of [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')(AuPPh3)2]BF4. Reaction of the complex [(dppm)(AuCl)2] with AgSO3CF3 followed by addition of the ligand K[Ph2P(Se)NP(Se)Ph2] results in the formation of [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')Au2(dppm)]OSO2CF3 and treatment of [(tht)AuCl] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with an equimolar quantity of K[Ph2P(Se)NP(Se)Ph2] affords the complex [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')2Au2]. The compounds [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')Au2(dppm)]OSO2CF3, [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')AuPPh3] and [(N(Ph2PSe)2-Se,Se')Au(PMe3)2] have been investigated crystallographically. The results reveal that the metal centers are two-, three-, and four-coordinate, respectively. The cationic, eight-membered ring complex bearing the dppm ligand displays transannular aurophilic bonding and is further associated into dimers via intermolecular gold-selenium contacts. The six-membered rings in the other two structures have C2-symmetrical twist conformations, however, the Au(I) coordination sphere in [N(PPh2Se)2]AuPPh3 is not fully symmetrical. The Au-Se bond lengths increase dramatically as the coordination number of the metal atom becomes larger.     

Thioether-functionalized ferrocenyl-bis(phosphonite), Fe{(C5H4)P(-OC10H6(micro-S)C10H6O-)}2: synthesis, coordination behavior, and application in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions

The thioether-functionalized metalloligand ferrocenyl-bis(phosphonite), Fe(C5H4PR)2 (4, R=-OC10H6(micro-S)C10H6O-) is synthesized in three steps starting from ferrocene, and its coordination behavior toward various transition-metal derivatives is described. The reactions of 4 with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 or M(COD)Cl2 afforded the chelate complexes, cis-[Rh(CO)Cl{Fe(C5H4PR)2-kappaP,kappaP}] (5) or cis-[MCl2{Fe(C5H4PR)2-kappaP,kappaP}] (6, M=PdII; 7, M=PtII), respectively. However, treatment of 4 with CuX (X=Cl, Br, and I) produces binuclear complexes, [Cu2(micro-X)2(MeCN){Fe(C5H4PR)2-kappaP,kappaP}] (8, X=Cl; 9, X=Br; 10, X=I) where the sulfur atom on one side of the ligand is involved in a weak interaction with the copper center. Reaction of 4 with 1 equiv of Ag(PPh3)OTf gives the mononuclear chelate complex [Ag(OTf)PPh3{Fe(C5H4PR)2-kappaP,kappaP}] (11), whereas treatment with 2 equiv of AuCl(SMe2) produces the dinuclear gold complex [Au(Cl){Fe(C5H4PR)2-kappaP,kappaP}Au(Cl)] (12). The crystal structures of 10 and 12 are reported, where a strong metallophilic interaction is observed between the closed-shell metal centers. The palladium complex 6 catalyzes the Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid with excellent turnover numbers (TON up to 1.36x10(5)).     

Heteropolynuclear phosphide complexes: phosphorus as unique atom bridging coinage metal centres

In this paper we describe the synthesis and reactivity of the diphenylphosphine derivatives [Au(C6F5)(PPh2H)] and trans-[Au(C6F5)2(PPh2H)2]ClO4. Reactions of the latter or the neutral [Au(C6F5)3(PPh2H)] with the appropriate Group 11 metal reagents (M = Au, Ag, Cu) in the presence of acetylacetonate afford a series of novel Au(III)-M phosphido-bridged complexes, which have been scarcely represented to date. The crystal structure of the tetranuclear [(Au(C6F5)2(mu-PPh2)2Ag)2] and the dinuclear [Au(C6F5)3(mu-PPh2)M(PPh3)] (M = Au,Ag) complexes were established by X-ray diffraction methods. The synthesis and deprotonating activity of the anionic gold(III) complex PPN[Au(C6F5)3(acac)] (PNN = [N(PPh3)2]+) was studied.     

Synthesis and X-ray structures of dinuclear and trinuclear gold(I) and dinuclear gold(II) amidinate complexes

The structures of the trinuclear gold(I), [Au(3)(2,6-Me(2)-form)(2)-(THT)Cl], the dinuclear [Au(2)(2,6-Me(2)-form)(2)], and the oxidative-addition product [Au(2)(2,6-Me(2)-form)(2)Cl(2)] formamidinate complexes are reported. The trinuclear complex is stable with gold-gold distances 3.01 and 3.55 A. The gold-gold distance in the dinuclear complex decreases upon oxidative-addition with halogens from 2.7 to 2.5 A, similar to observations made with the dithiolates and ylides.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, solution behavior, and in vitro antiproliferative properties of a series of gold complexes with 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole as ligand: comparisons of gold(III) versus gold(I) and mononuclear versus binuclear derivatives

A variety of gold(III) and gold(I) derivatives of 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (pbiH) were synthesized and fully characterized and their antiproliferative properties evaluated in a representative ovarian cancer cell line. The complexes include the mononuclear species [(pbi)AuX(2)] (X = Cl, 1; OAc, 2), [(pbiH)AuCl] (3), [(pbiH)Au(PPh(3))][PF(6)] (4-PF(6)), and [(pbi)Au(L)] (L = PPh(3), 5; TPA, 6), and the binuclear gold(I)/gold(I) and gold(I)/gold(III) derivatives [(PPh(3))(2)Au(2)(μ(2)-pbi)][PF(6)] (10-PF(6)), [ClAu(μ(3)-pbi)AuCl(2)] (7),and [(PPh(3))Au(μ(3)-pbi)AuX(2)][PF(6)] (X = Cl, 8-PF(6); OAc, 9-PF(6)). The molecular structures of 6, 7, and 10-PF(6) were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The chemical behavior of these compounds in solution was analyzed both by cyclic voltammetry in DMF and absorption UV-vis spectroscopy in an aqueous buffer. Overall, the stability of these gold compounds was found to be acceptable for the cellular studies. For all complexes, relevant antiproliferative activities in vitro were documented against A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells, either resistant or sensitive to cisplatin, with IC(50) values falling in the low micromolar or even in the nanomolar range. The investigated gold compounds were found to overcome resistance to cisplatin to a large degree. Results are interpreted and discussed in the frame of current knowledge on cytotoxic and antitumor gold compounds.     

Bis(2-diphenylphosphinoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methane: transition metal chemistry, Suzuki cross-coupling reactions and homogeneous hydrogenation of olefins

Transition metal complexes of bis(2-diphenylphosphinoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methane (1) are described. Bis(phosphinite) 1 reacts with Group 6 metal carbonyls, [Rh(CO)2Cl]2, anhydrous NiCl2, [Pd(C3H5)Cl]2/AgBF4 and Pt(COD)I2 to give the corresponding 10-membered chelate complexes 2, 3 and 5-8. Reaction of 1 with [Rh(COD)Cl]2 in the presence of AgBF4 affords a cationic complex, [Rh(COD){Ph2P(-OC10H6)(mu-CH2)(C10H6O-)PPh2-kappaP,kappaP}]BF4 (4). Treatment of 1 with AuCl(SMe2) gives mononuclear chelate complex, [(AuCl){Ph2P(-OC10H6)(mu-CH2)(C10H6O-)PPh2-kappaP,kappaP}] (9) as well as a binuclear complex, [Au(Cl){mu-Ph2P(-OC10H6)(mu-CH2)(C10H6O-)PPh2-kappaP,kappaP}AuCl] (10) with ligand 1 exhibiting both chelating and bridged bidentate modes of coordination respectively. The molecular structures of 2, 6, 7, 9 and 10 are determined by X-ray studies. The mixture of Pd(OAc)2 and effectively catalyzes Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of a range of aryl halides with aryl boronic acid in MeOH at room temperature or at 60 degrees C, giving generally high yields even under low catalytic loads. The cationic rhodium(I) complex, [Rh(COD){Ph2P(-OC10H6)(mu-CH2)(C10H6O-)PPh2-kappaP,kappaP}]BF4 (4) catalyzes the hydrogenation of styrenes to afford the corresponding alkyl benzenes in THF at room temperature or at 70 degrees C with excellent turnover frequencies.     

Eta 1 and eta 2 Coordination of 1-amino-closo-dodecaborate

The reaction of the sodium salt of 1-amino-closo-dodecaborate [Na]2[NH2-B12H11] ([Na]2[1]) with [Au(PPh3)Cl] and [Ni(THF)2(Br)2] led to eta 1(N) coordination of 1in [Na][Au(PPh3)(NH2-B12H11)] (2) and [Na]6[Ni(NH2-B12H11)4] (3), respectively. Furthermore, eta 2(N,BH) coordination of was found in [MePPh3][Rh(PPh3)2(NH2-B12H11)] (4), which was synthesized by the reaction of [MePPh3][Na][1] with [Rh(PPh3)3Cl]. All compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis, characterization, and X-ray structure determination of [Au18(P)2(PPh)4(PHPh)(dppm)6]Cl3

The reaction of [(AuCl)2dppm] (dppm=Ph2PCH2PPh2) with PhP(SiMe3)2 and P(SiMe3)3 leads to the formation of the gold cluster compound [Au18(P)2(PPh)4(PHPh)(dppm)6]Cl3 (1). The crystal structure investigation shows a central Au7P2 unit formed by two P centered gold tetrahedra sharing the central gold corner. This central unit is surrounded by a 10-membered Au5P5 ring which, together with the remaining six gold atoms, builds two Au4P rectangular and two Au3P trigonal pyramids. The different structure motifs are connected by the phosphine ligands. The compound has been characterized using microanalysis, IR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and 31P NMR techniques. Luminescence measurements have also been carried out.     

Amine-amide equilibrium in gold(III) complexes and a gold(III)-gold(I) aurophilic bond

The ligands HN(CH2-2-C5H4N)2, BPMA, and PhCH2N(CH2-2-C5H4N)2, BBPMA, react with Na[AuCl4] to give the cationic complexes [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ and [AuCl(BBPMA)]2+, respectively. The amido complex [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ undergoes easy inversion at the amido nitrogen atom and can be reversibly protonated by triflic acid to give [AuCl(BPMA)]2+. The complex [AuCl(BBPMA)]2+ is easily decomposed in aqueous solution by cleavage of a carbon-nitrogen bond or, in dilute HCl solution, by protonation of the ligand to give [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl4] The complexes [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl4] and [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl2] can be formed by direct reaction of BBPMA with H[AuCl4]. Unusual forms of gold(III)...gold(III) and gold(III)...gold(I) aurophilic bonding are observed in the salts [AuCl(BPMA-H)][PF6] and [AuCl(BPMA-H)][AuCl2], respectively. The first comparison of the structures of gold(III) amine and amido complexes, in the cations [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ and [AuCl(BPMA)]2+, indicates that there is little ppi-dpi bonding in the amido-gold bond and that the amide exerts a stronger trans influence than the amine group.     

Neutral gold complexes with tridentate SNS thiosemicarbazide ligands

Na[AuCl(4)]·2H(2)O reacts with tridentate thiosemicarbazide ligands, H(2)L1, derived from N-[N',N'-dialkylamino(thiocarbonyl)]benzimidoyl chloride and thiosemicarbazides under formation of air-stable, green [AuCl(L1)] complexes. The organic ligands coordinate in a planar SNS coordination mode. Small amounts of gold(I) complexes of the composition [AuCl(L3)] are formed as side-products, where L3 is an S-bonded 5-diethylamino-3-phenyl-1-thiocarbamoyl-1,2,4-triazole. The formation of the triazole L3 can be explained by the oxidation of H(2)L1 to an intermediate thiatriazine L2 by Au(3+), followed by a desulfurization reaction with ring contraction. The chloro ligands in the [AuCl(L1)] complexes can readily be replaced by other monoanionic ligands such as SCN(-) or CN(-) giving [Au(SCN)(L1)] or [Au(CN)(L1)] complexes. The complexes described in this paper represent the first examples of fully characterized neutral Gold(III) thiosemicarbazone complexes. All the [AuCl(L1)] compounds present a remarkable cell growth inhibition against human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, systematic variation of the alkyl groups in the N(4)-position of the thiosemicarbazone building blocks as well as the replacement of the chloride by thiocyanate ligands do not considerably influence the biological activity. On the other hand, the reduction of Au(III) to Au(I) leads to a considerable decrease of the cytotoxicity.     

Penta- and hexaruthenium carbonyl 'raft' complexes supported by monocarborane cage ligands

Reaction between [PPh4][closo-4-CB8H9] and [Ru3(CO)12] in refluxing toluene affords the unprecedented hexaruthenium metallacarborane salt [PPh4][2,3,7-{Ru(CO)3}-2,6,11-{Ru(CO)3}-7,11,12-{Ru(CO)3}-3,6,12-(micro-H)3-2,2,7,7,11,11-(CO)6-closo-2,7,11,1-Ru3CB8H6] (1a), which contains a planar Ru6 'raft' supported by a {CB8} monocarborane cluster. Addition of [CuCl(PPh3)]4 and Tl[PF6] to a CH2Cl2 solution of 1a results in simple cation replacement, forming the analogous [Cu(PPh3)3]+ salt (1b). The phenyl-substituted monocarborane [NEt4][6-Ph-nido-6-CB9H11] reacts with [Ru3(CO)12] in refluxing 1,2-dimethoxyethane to afford the pentaruthenium cluster species [N(PPh3)2][2,3,7-{Ru(CO)3}-3,4,8-{Ru(CO)3}-7,8-(micro-H)2-1-Ph-2,2,3,3,4,4-(CO)6-hypercloso-2,3,4,1-Ru3CB8H6] (2), after addition of [N(PPh3)2]Cl. Treatment of 2 with [CuCl(PPh3)]4 and Tl[PF6] in CH2Cl2 forms the zwitterionic complex [10,12-{exo-Cu(PPh3)2}-2,3,7-{Ru(CO)3}-3,4,8-{Ru(CO)3}-7,8,10,12-(micro-H)4-1-Ph-2,2,3,3,4,4-(CO)6-hypercloso-2,3,4,1-Ru3CB8H4] (3). Substitution of CO by PPh3 with concomitant cation replacement occurs on introduction of [AuCl(PPh3)], Tl[PF6], and PPh3 to a CH2Cl2 solution of 2, forming [Au(PPh3)2][2,3,7-{Ru(CO)2PPh3}-3,4,8-{Ru(CO)2PPh3}-7,8-(micro-H)2-1-Ph-2,2,3,3,4,4-(CO)6-hypercloso-2,3,4,1-Ru3CB8H6] (4). Crystallographic studies confirmed the cluster architectures in 1b, 2, and 3.     

Auration, argentation, and mercuration reactions of an iridaphosphirene

The reactions of the iridaphosphirene complex [Ir{=C(tBu)P(Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2] (Cy = cyclohexyl) with either [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) or AgCl result in the products [Ir{=C(tBu)P[M(Cl)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2], M = Au or Ag. The aurated product can additionally be obtained on reaction of the iridaphosphirene with [AuCl(CNtBu)], via loss of the isocyanide ligand. Treatment of [Ir{=C(tBu)P(Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2] with [AuCl(PPh3)] in the presence of silver triflate leads to the isolation of the salt, [Ir{=C(tBu)P[Au(PPh3)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2][SO3CF3]. Reaction of the iridaphosphirene with PhHgCl in the absence or presence of silver triflate affords the mercurated species [Ir{=C(tBu)P[Hg(Ph)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2]X, X = Cl or CF3SO3, respectively. The former exhibits a weakly mercury-coordinated chloride ion. The X-ray crystal structures of all of the complexes are described.