X-ray structure and UV spectroscopic studies of (adenmato-N9)triethylphosphinegold(I)

The preparation, characterization, and X-ray structure analysis of (adeninatoN9)triethylphosphinegold(I) is reported. The crystal structure consists of discrete molecules, the adeninate anion coordinates via the N(9) atom with a Au-N(9) bond distance of 2.057(5) Å and the linear geometry about the Au atom is completed by the P atom of a disordered Et₃P ligand; the Au-P(1) bond distance is 2.238(2) Å and the N(9)-Au-P(1) bond angle is 178.8(2)°. The crystals are orthorhombic, space groupPbca, with unit cell dimensionsa=8.528(1),b=17.797(3),c=18.526(2) Å andZ=8. The structure was refined by a full-matrix least-squares procedure to finalR=0.030 andR _w =0.033 for 1749 reflections withI>2.5a(I). The electronic spectrum of the complex dissolved in water in the near ultraviolet is consistent with essentially separate -electron systems of the adenine and phosphinegold moieties; a conclusion which corroborates the X-ray structural results.