Group IB organometallic chemistry: XXXIII. ArAuPPh3, ArAu(CNR), (ArAu)n and Ar4Cu2Au2 compounds in which the aryl group contains 2-MeO, 2,6-(MeO)2, 2-Me2N, 2-Me2NCH2 and (S)- or (R)-2-Me2NCHMe substituents as potential ligands

The synthesis and structural characterization by ¹H NMR and ¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer spectroscopy as well as by chiral labelling of the built-in ligands of three different types of arylgold(I) compounds is described.¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer data revealed that the benzyl- and arylgold(I) triphenylphosphine complexes which bear potential coordinating substituents at an ortho position still contain linearly coordinated Au^I with 2c-2e gold(I)carbon bonds. The observation of isochronous NME resonances in (S)-2-Me₂NCH(Me)C₆H₄AuPPh₃ confirms that no additional intramolecular AuN coordination occurs in solution. Preliminary results of an X-ray diffraction study of 2,6-(MeO)₂C₆H₃AuPPh₃ are reported (R = 0.040, PAuC₁ angle 172.6°. Unsymmetrical AuC₁C₂ and AuC₁C₆ angles of 126.4 and 117.4°, respectively).Pure, uncomplexed arylgold(I) compounds have been isolated from the reaction of diarylgoldlithium compounds (arylaurates) with trimethyltin bromide. (S)-2-Me₂NCHMeC₆H₄Au has a dimeric structure which most likely consists of two monomeric units associated by intermolecular AuN coordination thus forming a ten-membered chelate ring. The structure of insoluble 2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄Au and 2-Me₂NC₆H₄Au are less clear. The former compound probably has a structure similar to (S)-2-Me₂NCHMeC₆H₄Au (IS/QS values for two-coordinate Au^I centers). However, the strongly deviating IS and QS values of 2-Me₂NC₆H₄Au indicate that a polynuclear structure for this compound similar to that proposed for 2-Me₂NC₆H₄Cu cannot be excluded (a polymeric structure containing 2-Me₂NC₆H₄ groups which span three Au atoms by 3c-2e Au₂C bonds and AuN coordination).The mixed Au/Cu cluster (2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₄Au₂Cu₂ is accessible via the $\text{1}\text{2}$ reaction of (2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₄Au₂Li₂ with CuI. Molecular weight and ¹H NMR studies point to a tetranuclear structure in solution, while mass spectrometry shows fragment ions with m/e corresponding to (2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃Au₂Cu₂⁺, (2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃Cu₂Au⁺, (2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₂CuAu₂⁺ and of (2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₂Au⁺.     

Ag Doped Au44 Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to CO

A novel Ag doped Au₄₄(C₁₀H₉)₂₈ nanocluster (C₁₀H₁₀=1-ethynyl-2,4-dimethylbenzene) was synthesized, that is, Ag_4+xAu_40-x(C₁₀H₉)₂₈ (x≤6), where four Ag positions located in the surface staple of the cluster have been determined, while six Au/Ag co-occupying positions have been found in the metal core of the cluster. The electronic configuration of Au₄₄(C₁₀H₉)₂₈ cluster is significantly disturbed by doping Ag atoms, hence promoting the electron transport capability. For the two-electron conversion reaction of CO₂ to CO in electrochemical reduction of CO₂, Ag doped Ag_4+xAu_40-x(C₁₀H₉)₂₈ catalyst exhibited higher effective activity and long-term stability than its counterpart Au₄₄(C₁₀H₉)₂₈ catalyst.     

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.     

Synthesis, Characterization, Luminescence, and Electrochemistry of New Tetranuclear Gold(I) Amidinate Clusters: Au4[PhNC(Ph)NPh]4, Au4[PhNC(CH3)NPh]4, and Au4[ArNC(H)NAr]4

The syntheses and the X-ray structures of the tetranuclear gold(I) benzamidinate, Au₄[PhNC(Ph)NPh]₄, and the tetranuclear gold(I) acetamidinate, Au₄[PhNC(CH₃)NPh]₄, clusters are reported. The clusters are produced by the reaction of the sodium salt of an amidine ligand with the gold precursor Au(THT)Cl in a (1:1) stoichiometry. The average Au...Au distance between adjacent Au(I) atoms is ∼2.9 ?, typical of compounds having an aurophilic interaction. The four gold atoms are arranged in a square (Au...Au...Au... = 88–91°) in the acetamidinate and in a distorted square (Au...Au...Au... = 82–97°) in the benzamidinate derivative. Electrochemical oxidation of the tetranuclear complex Au₄[PhNC(Ph)NPh]₄ show three reversible waves at 0.87, 1.19, 1.42 V vs. Ag/AgCl at a scan rate of 100 mV/s in CH₂Cl₂ similar to the three reversible waves seen before from the tetranuclear complexes Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄-4-OMe, Ar = C₆H₄-4-Me, and Ar = C₆H₃-3,5-Cl. A summary of the chemistry of the tetranuclear Au(I) amidinate complexes Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄-4-OMe, C₆H₃-3,5-Cl, C₆H₄-4-Me, C₆H₄-3-CF₃, C₆F₅, C₁₀H₇ also is presented. The tetranuclear clusters Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄-4-OMe, Ar = C₆H₄-3-CF₃, Ar = C₆H₄-4-Me and Ar = C₆H₄-3,5-Cl are the first tetranuclear gold(I) cluster species from group 11 elements to show fluorescence at room temperature. The lifetimes of the naphthyl and trifluoromethylphenyl complexes are in the millisecond range indicating phosphorescent processes. Recently it has been shown that Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄ are very effective catalysts upon calcination for room temperature CO oxidation. Congratulations to Dieter Fenske, a superb synthetic chemist with exceptional talents in cluster chemistry, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Reactions of Au+ and Au− with benzene and fluorine-substituted benzenes

Reactions of gold anions and cations generated by laser desorption/ionization were studied in the FTICR spectrometer. Au⁻ associated with C₆F₆ to give the novel Au⁻(C₆F₆) complex, whose binding energy was estimated to be 24 ± 4 kcal mol⁻¹ from analysis of the radiative association (RA) kinetics. Au⁺ associated with C₆F₅H to give Au⁺(C₆F₅H), with binding energy estimated to be 31 kcal mol⁻¹. Au⁺ reacted with C₆H₆ to form the well known Au⁺(C₆H₆) and Au⁺(C₆H₆)₂ complexes. The observation of rapid charge transfer from Au⁺(C₆H₆) to C₆H₆ was interpreted as showing that benzene binds more strongly to neutral Au than to Au⁺. The neutral Au–C₆H₆ bond is accordingly concluded to be stronger than about 70 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Synthesis,properties and crystal structures of volatile dimethylgold(III) complexes based on phenyl-containing β-diketones and β-iminoketone

We have synthesized and studied volatile dimethylgold(III) complexes based on phenyl-containing β-diketones and β-iminoketone, namely (CH₃)₂Au(C₆H₅–CO–CH–CO–CH₃), (CH₃)₂Au(bac) (1); (CH₃)₂Au(C₆H₅–CO–CH–CO–CF₃), (CH₃)₂Au(btfa) (2); and (CH₃)₂Au(C₆H₅–CO–CH–C(NH)–CH₃), (CH₃)₂Au(i-bac) (3). The obtained compounds were identified by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR and IR-spectroscopy, and were characterized by DTA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In compounds 2 and 3, the Au atom has a square coordination environment AuC₂O₂ and AuC₂NO, respectively.     

从头计算方法比较研究B2Au4, Al2Au4和BAlAu4的几何和电子结构

Au/H 相似性的研究是现代化学中的一个热门话题. 我们从理论上报道Au/H 相似的新成员: 共价化合物B₂Au₄, 离子化合物Al₂Au₄和BAlAu₄. 采用密度泛函和波函数理论方法对比研究了缺电子体系B₂Au₄、Al₂Au₄和BAlAu₄的几何和电子结构. 详细讨论了它们基态结构的轨道、适应性自然密度划分(AdNDP)和电子局域函数(ELF)分析. 计算结果表明稍微扭曲变形的C₂B₂Au₄是基态结构, 在这个共价化合物中含有两个B―Au―B三中心二电子(3c-2e)键. 然而C_3v Al⁺(AlAu₄)^-和C_3v Al⁺(BAu₄)^-被研究证明是含有三个X―Au―Al 三中心二电子键的类盐化合物(在Al₂Au₄中X=Al, BAlAu₄中X=B). Al₂Au₄和BAlAu₄是至今为止首例报道的在离子缺电子体系中含有金桥键的化合物. 同时计算了B₂Au₄^-、Al₂Au₄^- 和BAlAu₄^- 阴离子基态结构的绝热剥离能和垂直剥离能, 为实验表征提供依据. 文中报道的金桥键为共价键和离子键相结合的缺电子体系提供了一个有趣的键合模式, 有助于设计含有高度分散金原子的新材料和催化剂.     

Transformations of Tetraazametallocomplexes of Gold(III) in the Presence of Oxidants

The treatment of the macrocyclic tetraazametallocomplexes of gold(III), [Au(C₉H₁₉N₄)]²⁺ and [Au(C₁₄H₂₂N₄)]⁺, with hydrochloric solutions of H₂O₂ or Ce(SO₄)₂ results in the substitution of the hydrogen atoms for halogen atoms in the β-position of the six-membered diiminate rings of the ligands.     

Photocatalytic Oxidative Coupling of Methane over Au1Ag Single-Atom Alloy Modified ZnO with Oxygen and Water Vapor: Synergy of Gold and Silver

C−H dissociation and C−C coupling are two key steps in converting CH₄ into multi-carbon compounds. Here we report a synergy of Au and Ag to greatly promote C₂H₆ formation over Au₁Ag single-atom alloy nanoparticles (Au₁Ag NPs)-modified ZnO catalyst via photocatalytic oxidative coupling of methane (POCM) with O₂ and H₂O. Atomically dispersed Au in Au₁Ag NPs effectively promotes the dissociation of O₂ and H₂O into *OOH, promoting C−H activation of CH₄ on the photogenerated O⁻ to form *CH₃. Electron-deficient Au single atoms, as hopping ladders, also facilitate the migration of electron donor *CH₃ from ZnO to Au₁Ag NPs. Finally, *CH₃ coupling can readily occur on Ag atoms of Au₁Ag NPs. An excellent C₂H₆ yield of 14.0 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ with a selectivity of 79 % and an apparent quantum yield of 14.6 % at 350 nm is obtained via POCM with O₂ and H₂O, which is at least two times that of the photocatalytic system. The bimetallic synergistic strategy offers guidance for future catalyst design for POCM with O₂ and H₂O.     

[μ‐4,5‐Bis(diphenylphosphino)‐9,9‐dimethylxanthene]bis[(trifluoroacetato)gold(I)] and its dichloromethane 0.58‐solvate

The dinuclear Au^I complex containing the 4,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐9,9‐dimethylxanthene (xantphos) ligand and trifluoroacetate anions exists in a solvent‐free form, [μ‐4,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐9,9‐dimethylxanthene]bis[(trifluoroacetato)gold(I)], [Au₂(C₂F₃O₂)₂(C₃₉H₃₂OP₂)], (I), and as a dichloromethane solvate, [Au₂(C₂F₃O₂)₂(C₃₉H₃₂OP₂)]·0.58CH₂Cl₂, (II). The trifluoroacetate anions are coordinated to the Au^I centres bridged by the xantphos ligand in both compounds. The Au^I atoms are in distorted linear coordination environments in both compounds. The phosphine substituents are in a syn arrangement in the xantphos ligand, which facilitates the formation of short aurophilic Au...Au interactions of 2.8966 (8) Å in (I) and 2.9439 (6) Å in (II).     

Ligand‐Stabilized and Atomically Precise Gold Nanocluster Catalysis: A Case Study for Correlating Fundamental Electronic Properties with Catalysis

We present results from our investigations into correlating the styrene‐oxidation catalysis of atomically precise mixed‐ligand biicosahedral‐structure [Au₂₅(PPh₃)₁₀(SC₁₂H₂₅)₅Cl₂]²⁺ (Au₂₅‐bi) and thiol‐stabilized icosahedral core–shell‐structure [Au₂₅(SCH₂CH₂Ph)₁₈]^? (Au₂₅‐i) clusters with their electronic and atomic structure by using a combination of synchrotron radiation‐based X‐ray absorption fine‐structure spectroscopy (XAFS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). Compared to bulk Au, XAFS revealed low Au–Au coordination, Au? Au bond contraction and higher d‐band vacancies in both the ligand‐stabilized Au clusters. The ligands were found not only to act as colloidal stabilizers, but also as d‐band electron acceptor for Au atoms. Au₂₅‐bi clusters have a higher first‐shell Au coordination number than Au₂₅‐i, whereas Au₂₅‐bi and Au₂₅‐i clusters have the same number of Au atoms. The UPS revealed a trend of narrower d‐band width, with apparent d‐band spin–orbit splitting and higher binding energy of d‐band center position for Au₂₅‐bi and Au₂₅‐i. We propose that the differences in their d‐band unoccupied state population are likely to be responsible for differences in their catalytic activity and selectivity. The findings reported herein help to understand the catalysis of atomically precise ligand‐stabilized metal clusters by correlating their atomic or electronic properties with catalytic activity.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Luminescence,and Electrochemistry of the Tetranuclear Gold(I) Amidinate Clusters,Precursors to CO Oxidation Catalysts: Au4[(ArNC(H)NAr)]4, Au4[(PhNC(Ph)NPh)]4 and Au4[PhNC(CH3)NPh)4]

A summary of the chemistry of the tetranuclear Au(I) amidinate complexes is presented. Tetranuclear Au(I) amidinate clusters are produced by the reaction of the sodium salt of a amidine ligand with the gold precursor Au(THT)Cl in a (1:1) stoichiometry. The structures of the tetranuclear Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄‐4‐OMe, C₆H₃‐3,5‐Cl, C₆H₄‐4‐Me, C₆H₄‐3‐CF₃, C₆F₅, C₁₀H₇ and the tetranuclear Au₄[(PhNC(Ph)NPh]₄ and Au₄[PhNC(CH₃)NPh]₄ have been characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The average Au···Au distance between adjacent Au(I) atoms is ?3.0 Å, typical of compounds having an aurophilic interaction. The four gold atoms are located at the corner of a rhomboid with the amidinate ligands bridged above and below the near plane of the four Au(I) atoms. The angles at Au···Au···Au in the cyclic units are between 70° and 116°. The tetranuclear gold(I) amidinate clusters each show different luminescence behavior. The tetranuclear clusters Au₄[(ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄‐4‐OMe, Ar = C₆H₄‐3‐CF₃, Ar = C₆H₄‐4‐Me and Ar = C₆H₄‐3,5‐Cl are the first tetranuclear gold(I) cluster species from group 11 elements that show fluorescence at room temperature. The tetranuclear naphthyl derivative Ar = C₁₀H₇ is luminescent only at 77 K. The pentafluorophenyl derivative Ar = C₆F₅ does not show any photoluminescence in the solid state nor in the solution. The lifetimes of the naphthyl and trifluoromethylphenyl complexes are in the millisecond range indicating phosphorescent processes. Electrochemical and chemical oxidation studies of the tetranuclear Au(I) amidinate clusters are presented. The tetranuclear complexes Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄‐4‐OMe, Ar = C₆H₄‐4‐Me, and Ar = C₆H₃‐3,5‐Cl, show three reversible waves at 0.75, 0.95, 1.09 V vs. Ag/AgCl at a scan rate of 500 mV/s in 0.1 M Bu₄NPF₆/CH₂Cl₂ at a Pt working electrode in CH₂Cl₂. Three reversible waves at 0.87, 1.19, 1.42 V vs. Ag/AgCl at a scan rate of 100 mV/s are also observed for the tetranuclear complex Au₄[PhNC(Ph)NPh]₄ in CH₂Cl₂. The pentafluorophenyl amidinate derivative, Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆F₅ shows no oxidation wave below 1.8 V. Recently it has been shown that Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄ is a very effective catalyst precursor for room temperature CO oxidation.     

A Density Functional Investigation on C2Aun+ (n?=?1, 3, 5) and C2Aun (n?=?2, 4, 6): from Gold Terminals, Gold Bridges, to Gold Triangles

A systematic density functional theory investigation on C₂Au _n ⁺ (n = 1,3,5) and C₂Au _n (n = 2,4,6) indicates that gold atoms serve as terminals (–Au) in the chain-like C_s C₂Au⁺ (C=C–Au⁺) and D_∞h C₂Au₂ (Au–C≡C–Au) and as bridges (–Au–) in the side-on coordinated C_2v C₂Au₃ ⁺ ([Au–C≡C–Au]Au⁺) and C_s C₂HAu₂ ⁺([H–C≡C–Au]Au⁺). However, when the number of gold atoms reaches four, they form stable gold triangles (–Au₃) in the head-on coordinated C_2v C₂Au₄ (Au–C≡C–Au₃) and the side-on coordinated C_2v C₂Au₅ ⁺ ([Au–C≡C–Au]Au₃ ⁺). Similar –Au₃ triangular units exist in the head-on coordinated C_2v C₂HAu₃ (H–C≡C–Au₃) and D_2d C₂Au₆ (Au₃–C≡C–Au₃). The existence of stable –Au₃ triangular units in small dicarbon aurides is significant and intriguing. The high stability of Au₃ triangles originates from the fact that an equilateral D_3h Au₃ ⁺ cation possesses a completely delocalized three-center-two-electron (3c–2e) σ bond and therefore is σ-aromatic in nature. The extension from H/Au analogy to H/Au₃ analogy established in this work may have important implications in designing new gold-containing catalysts and nano-materials.     

[cis‐{η2‐(Ph3PAu)2}Ph3PCr(CO)4]·THF,featuring the shortest known separation between two Au metal centres in a heteronuclear Au2M cluster

The title compound, tetra­carbonyl‐1κ⁴C‐tris­(tri­phenyl­phos­phino)‐1κP,2κP,3κP‐triangulo‐chromiumdigold(Au—Au)(2 Cr—Au) tetra­hydro­furan solvate, [Au₂Cr(C₁₈H₁₅P)₃(CO)₄]·C₄H₈O, is a stable isolobal analogue of the extremely labile [(η²‐H₂)CrL_n–1] molecular hydrogen complex (n = 6; L is a neutral ligand, e.g. CO or PPh₃), and features the shortest known separation [2.6937 (2) Å] between two Au atoms in a triangular heteronuclear metal‐cluster framework.     

A square‐planar hydrated cationic tetrakis(methimazole)gold(III) complex

The cationic pseudo‐square‐planar complex tetrakis(1‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thione‐κS)gold(III) trichloride sesquihydrate, [Au(C₄H₆N₂S)₄]Cl₃·1.5H₂O, was isolated as dark‐red crystals from the reaction of chloroauric acid trihydrate (HAuCl₄·3H₂O) with four equivalents of methimazole in methanol. The Au^III atoms reside at the corners of the unit cell on an inversion center and are bound by the S atoms of four methimazole ligands in a planar arrangement, with S—Au—S bond angles of approximately 90°.     

Structural Evolution and Electronic Properties of Au2Gen-/0 (n=1-8) Clusters: Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations

Investigating the structures and properties of Au-Ge mixed clusters can give insight into the microscopic mechanisms in gold-catalyzed Ge films and can also provide valuable information for the production of germanium-based functional materials. In this work, size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations were used to explore the structural evolution and electronic properties of Au₂Ge_n^-/0 (n=1-8) clusters. It is found that the two Au atoms in Au₂Ge_n^-/0 (n=1-8) showed high coordination numbers and weak aurophilic interactions. The global minima of Au₂Ge_n^- anions and Au₂Ge_n neutrals are in spin doublet and singlet states, respectively. Au₂Ge_n^- anions and Au₂Ge_n neutrals showed similar structural features, except for Au₂Ge₄^-/0 and Au₂Ge₅^-/0. The C_2v symmetric V-shaped structure is observed for Au₂Ge₁^-/0, while Au₂Ge₂^-/0 has a C_2v symmetric dibridged structure. Au₂Ge₃^-/0 can be viewed as the two Au atoms attached to different Ge-Ge bonds of Ge₃ triangle. Au₂Ge₄^- has two Au atoms edge-capping Ge₄ tetrahedron, while Au₂Ge₄ neutral adopts a C_2v symmetric double Au atoms face-capping Ge₄ rhombus. Au₂Ge_5-8^-/0 show triangular, tetragonal, and pentagonal prism-based geometries. Au₂Ge₆ adopts a C_2v symmetric tetragonal prism structure and exhibits σ plus π double bonding characters.     

Tetraphenylphosphonium bis(2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolato)aurate(III) acetone solvate and ethyltriphenylphosphonium bis(2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolato)aurate(III)

In the two title complexes, (C₂₄H₂₀P)[Au(C₃S₅)₂]·C₃H₆O, (I), and (C₂₀H₂₀P)[Au(C₃S₅)₂], (II), the Au^III atoms exhibit square‐planar coordinations involving four S atoms from two 2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolate (dmit) ligands. The Au—S bond lengths, ranging from 2.3057 (8) to 2.3233 (7) Å in (I) and from 2.3119 (8) to 2.3291 (10) Å in (II), are slightly smaller than the sum of the single‐bond covalent radii. In (I), there are two halves of independent Ph₄P⁺ cations, in which the two P atoms lie on twofold rotation axis sites. The Ph₄P⁺ cations and [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ anions are interspersed as columns in the packing. Layers composed of Ph₄P⁺ and [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ are separated by layers of acetone molecules. In (II), the [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ anions and EtPh₃P⁺ counter‐cations form a layered arrangement, and the [Au(C₃S₅)₂]⁻ anions form discrete pairs with a long intermolecular Au...S interaction for each Au atom in the crystal structure.     

Adsorption of small molecules on helical gold nanorods: A relativistic density functional study

We study the adsorption of a variety of small molecules on helical gold nanorods using relativistic density functional theory. We focus on Au₄₀ which consists of a central linear strand of five gold atoms with seven helical strands of five gold atoms on a coaxial tube. All molecules preferentially adsorb at a single low‐coordinated gold atom on the coaxial tube at an end of Au₄₀. In most cases, there is significant charge transfer (CT) between Au₄₀ and the adsorbate, for CO and NO₂, there is CT from the Au₄₀ to adsorbate while for all other molecules there is CT from the adsorbate to Au₄₀. Thus, Au₄₀‐adsorbate can be described as a donor–accepter complex and we use charge decomposition analysis to better understand the adsorption process. We determine the adsorption energy order to be C₅H₅N >NO₂ > CO > NH₃ > CH₂?CH₂ > CH₂?CH? CHO > NO > HC?CH > H₂S > SO₂ > HCN > CH₃OH > H₂C?O > O₂ > H₂O > CH₄ > N₂. We find that the Au? C, Au? N, Au? S, and Au? O bonds are surprisingly strong, with clear implications for reactivity enhancement of the adsorbate. The Au? H bond is relatively weak but, for interactions via an H atom that is bonded to a carbon atom (e.g., CH₄), we find that there is large charge polarization of the Au? H? C moiety and partial activation of the inert C? H bond. Although the Au? S and Au? O bonds are generally weaker than the Au? C and Au? N bonds, we find that adsorption of H₂S or H₂O causes greater distortion of Au₄₀ in the binding region. However, the degree of distortion is small and the helical structure is retained, demonstrating the stability of the helical Au₄₀ nanorod under perturbations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The reactivity of the bis(phenylethynyl)aurate(I) complex anion. Synthesis and characterization of novel di- and tri-nuclear group IB metal arylacetylides

The syntheses of the novel complexes ((PPh₃)₂N)(PhC₂AuC₂Ph)(MC₂R) (I: M = Au, R = Ph; II: M = Ag, R = p-MeC₆H₄)and ((PPh₃)₂N)(PhC₂AuC₂Ph)(AuC₂Ph)(CuC₂-p-MeC₆H₄) (III) are described and structures considered.     

Direct synthesis using gold atoms: synthesis,infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectra and molecular orbital investigations of monoethylene gold(0), (C2H4Au

The reaction of Au atoms with ¹²C₂H₄ or ¹²C₂H₄/Ar mixtures at 8–10 K yields a single product. Using Au and ¹²C₂H₄ concentration experiments, warm-up studies and ¹³C₂H₄/Ar, ¹²C₂H₄/¹³C₂H₄/Ar isotopic substitution, coupled with infrared and UV-visible spectroscopy, the product is characterized to be monoethylene gold(0), (C₂H₄)Au, the first reported example of a zerovalent gold-olefin complex. Extended Hückel molecular orbital calculations proved to be a useful aid towards the assignment of the optical spectrum of (C₂H₄)Au. The thermal stability of (C₂H₄)Au in solid C₂H₄ at 70 K is discussed in terms of the feasibility of a macroscale, liquid nitrogen temperature, chemical synthesis. The molecular and electronic properties of the group of complexes (C₂H₄)M and M(0₂), where M = Ag or Au, are compared and discussed.