Facile formation of exo-nido→closo-rearrangement products upon the replacement of PPh3 ligands with bis(diphenylphosphino)alkanes in “three-bridge” ruthenacarborane 5,6,10-[RuCl(PPh3)2]-5,6,10-(μ-H)3-10-H-exo-nido-7,8-C2B9H8

The replacement of the PPh₃ ligands in “three-bridge” exo-nido-ruthenacarborane 5,6,10-[RuCl(PPh₃)₂]-5,6,10-(μ-H)₃-10-H-exo-nido-7,8-C₂B₉H₈ with diphosphines, viz., 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) or 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb) dramatically decreases the barrier to the thermal exo-nido→closo rearrangement affording the chelate closo-complexes 3,3-[Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂]-3-H-3-Cl-closo-3,1,2-RuC₂B₉H₁₁ (n = 3 or 4) under mild conditions. In the reaction with dppp, the rearrangement is accompanied by the formation of 17-electron paramagnetic closo-ruthenacarborane 3,3-[Ph₂P(CH₂)₃PPh₂]-3-Cl-closo-3,1,2-RuC₂B₉H₁₁, which could be isolated as the main product when the reaction was carried out at 80 °C. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2455–2459, November, 2005.     

Bis(alkoxycarbonyl) complexes of platinum: preparation,reactivity and their role in carbonylation reactions

bis(alkoxycarbonyl) complexes of platinum of the type [Pt(COOR)₂L] [L = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp), l,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb), 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) or 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)benzene (dpb); R = CH₃, C₆H₅ or C₂H₅] were obtained by reaction of [PtCl₂L] with carbon monoxide and alkoxides. Palladium and nickel complexes gave only carbonyl complexes of the type [M(CO)L] or [M(CO)₂L]. The new complexes were characterized by chemical and spectroscopic means. The X-ray structure of [Pt(COOCH₃)₂(dppf] · CH₃OH is also reported. The reactivity of some alkoxycarbonyl complexes was also investigated.     

Facile method for the synthesis of ruthenacarboranes, diamagnetic 3,3-[Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2]-3-H-3-Cl-closo-3,1,2-RuC2B9H11 (n = 3 or 4) and paramagnetic 3,3-[Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2]-3-Cl-closo-3,1,2-RuC2B9H11 (n = 2 or 3), as efficient initiators of controlled radical polymerization of vinyl monomers

A facile preparative procedure was developed for the synthesis of 17-and 18-electron closo-(diphosphine)ruthenacarborane complexes. This method is based on the replacement of PPh₃ ligands with bis(diphenylphosphino)alkanes Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂ (n = 2—4) in ruthenacarborane 3,3-(PPh₃)₂-3-Cl-3-H-closo-3,1,2-RuC₂B₉H₁₁. The resulting complexes exhibit high activity in controlled radical polymerization of vinyl monomers.     

Carborane complexes of ruthenium with long-chain diphosphine ligands as effective catalysts of controlled radical polymerization

Catalytic systems based on carborane complexes of ruthenium with long-chain diphosphine ligands, such as 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and 1,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane, are prepared for the controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. It is found that the used metallacarboranes can catalyze polymerization initiated by both carbon tetrachloride and 2,2′-azo-bis(isobutyronitrile). It is shown that closo-ruthenacarborane with 1,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane 3,3-[PPh₂(CH₂)₅PPh₂]-3-Cl-3,1,2-closo-RuC₂B₉H₁₁ and its o-phenylenecycloborated derivatives make it possible to conduct polymerization at higher rates than those attained with the use of previously synthesized complexes based on diphosphines with a smaller length of the hydrocarbon fragment. The relationship between the redox potential of the complex and the efficiency of control over molecular-mass characteristics of the polymers is analyzed. Experiments reveal that the addition of small amounts of aliphatic amines causes a considerable increase in the rate of polymerization and leads to a decrease in the concentration of the catalyst with retention of a high degree of control over the process.     

Eisen(II)—Phosphin-Komplexe Synthese und Kristallstrukturen von [Fe2I4(dppe)2], [Fe2(SR)4(dppe)2], [Fe(SR′)2(dppp)] und [Fe(SR)2(PMePh2)2] (dppe = Ph2P(CH2)2PPh2; dppp = Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2; R = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2; R′ = 2,4-tBuC6H3)

Iron(II) Phosphane Complexes. Synthesis and Crystal Structures of [Fe₂I₄(dppe)₂], [Fe₂(SR)₄(dppe)₂], [Fe(SR′)₂(dppp)] and [Fe(SR)₂(PMePh₂)₂] (dppe = Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂; dppp = Ph₂P(CH₂)₃PPh₂; R = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂; R′ = 2,4-tBuC₆H₃) The title compounds were isolated and their structures determined by crystallographic methods. [Fe₂I₄(dppe)₂] ( 1 ) and [Fe₂(SR)₄(dppe)₂] ( 2 ) form dimeric complexes with the bidentate phosphane binding to different iron atoms. The resulting ten-membered rings of both compounds exhibit a nearly identical conformation. The central FeS₂P₂ units of the mononuclear complexes [Fe(SR′)₂(dppp)] ( 3 ) and [Fe(SR)₂(PMePh₂)₂] ( 4 ) show like 2 large deviations from ideal C_2v symmetry with bonding angles around the central iron atom ranging from 97.2, 92.5, and 96.5° (angle P? Fe? P in 2, 3 , and 4 , respectively) to 129.0, 129.9, and 133.6° (angle S? Fe? S in 2, 3 , and 4 , respectively).     

N-arylammonio- and N-pyridinium-substituted derivatives of dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-)

We report two methods for preparing N-arylammonio, N-pyridyl and N-arylamino dodecaborates: heating of the tetrabutylammonium salt of dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-) with aryl and pyridyl amines, or nucleophilic attack of [closo-B₁₂H₁₁NH₂]²⁻ on a strongly deactivated aromatic system. With aryl amines we obtained [1-closo-B₁₂H₁₁N(R¹)₂C₆H₅]⁻ (R¹ = H, CH₃). With 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NC₅H₄)-4-N(CH₃)₂]⁻, with a bond between the boron and the pyridinium nitrogen, was obtained. A presumable mechanism for this kind of reactions is reported. By nucleophilic substitution, two products, [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₃)-3,4-(CN)₂]²⁻ and [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₂)-2-(NO₂)-4,5-(CN)₂]²⁻, were formed with 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene gave [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₃)-2,4-(NO₂)₂]²⁻. For [1-closo-B₁₂H₁₁N(CH₃)₂C₆H₅]⁻ and [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₃)-2,4-(NO₂)₂]²⁻ single crystal X-ray structures were obtained.     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with aryl Grignard reagents and their application to sequential radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions

Reactions of alkyl halides with arylmagnesium bromides in the presence of cobalt(II)(diphosphine) complexes are discussed. Treatment of 1-bromooctane with phenylmagnesium bromide with the aid of a catalytic amount of CoCl₂(dppp) [DPPP=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane] yielded octylbenzene in good yield. The reaction mechanism would include single electron transfer from an electron-rich cobalt complex to alkyl halide to generate the corresponding alkyl radical. The mechanism was justified by CoCl₂(dppe)-catalyzed [DPPE=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] sequential radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions of 6-halo-1-hexene derivatives that yielded benzyl-substituted cyclopentane skeletons.     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of cis-configured mononuclear palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of chalcogeno o-carboranes and structures of [Pt(SCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SeCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SCboS)(PMe2Ph)2] and [Pt(SCboS)(PMePh2)2]

The reactions of [MCl₂(P^∩P)] and [MCl₂(PR₃)₂)] with 1-mercapto-2-phenyl-o-carborane/NaSeCb^oPh and 1,2-dimercapto-o-carborane yield mononuclear complexes of composition, [M(SCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)], [M(SeCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)] (M = Pd or Pt; P^∩P = dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane), dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) or dppp (1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)) and [M(SCb^oS)(PR₃)₂] (2PR₃ = dppm, dppe, 2PEt₃, 2PMe₂Ph, 2PMePh₂ or 2PPh₃). These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and NMR (¹H, ³¹P, ⁷⁷Se and ¹⁹⁵Pt) spectroscopy. The ¹J(Pt–P) values and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts are influenced by the nature of phosphine as well as thiolate ligand. Molecular structures of [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMe₂Ph)₂] and [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMePh₂)₂] have been established by single crystal X-ray structural analyses. The platinum atom in all these complexes acquires a distorted square planar configuration defined by two cis-bound phosphine ligands and two chalcogenolate groups. The carborane rings are mutually anti in [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)] and [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)].     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of cis-configured mononuclear palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of chalcogeno o-carboranes and structures of [Pt(SCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SeCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SCboS)(PMe2Ph)2] and [Pt(SCboS)(PMePh2)2]

The reactions of [MCl₂(P^∩P)] and [MCl₂(PR₃)₂)] with 1-mercapto-2-phenyl-o-carborane/NaSeCb^oPh and 1,2-dimercapto-o-carborane yield mononuclear complexes of composition, [M(SCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)], [M(SeCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)] (M = Pd or Pt; P^∩P = dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane), dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) or dppp (1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)) and [M(SCb^oS)(PR₃)₂] (2PR₃ = dppm, dppe, 2PEt₃, 2PMe₂Ph, 2PMePh₂ or 2PPh₃). These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and NMR (¹H, ³¹P, ⁷⁷Se and ¹⁹⁵Pt) spectroscopy. The ¹J(Pt–P) values and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts are influenced by the nature of phosphine as well as thiolate ligand. Molecular structures of [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMe₂Ph)₂] and [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMePh₂)₂] have been established by single crystal X-ray structural analyses. The platinum atom in all these complexes acquires a distorted square planar configuration defined by two cis-bound phosphine ligands and two chalcogenolate groups. The carborane rings are mutually anti in [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)] and [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)].     

Combinative use of high-pressure, metal-templating and sulfur-nucleophilicity towards dithiacyclophane synthesis and its complex intermediates

Combined use of elevated pressure in the liquid phase (15 kbar), a metal template and the sulfur nucleophilicity of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(P-P)₂] (P-P = diphosphine or 2 · monophosphine) facilitates the one-pot synthesis of 3,8-dibenzo-1,6-dithiacyclodecane. Under r.t.p., nucleophilic addition of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(P-P)₂] [P-P = 2 · PPh₃; Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂, n = 2, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 3, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp)] with α-α′-dichloro-o-xylene would terminate as a dithiolato bridged cation viz. [Pt₂(μ-SCH₂C₆H₄CH₂S)(P-P)₂]²⁺. Under high pressure (15 kbar) at r.t., these stoichiometric reactions progress via a “catalytic-like” pathway to yield 3,8-dibenzo-1,6-dithiacyclodecane (up to 35%), and a series of mechanistically relevant intermediates and byproducts. The dithiolated intermediates [Pt₂(μ-SCH₂C₆H₄CH₂S)(P-P)₂]²⁺ for PPh₃ and dppp have been isolated as complexes and their crystal structure determined. The formation of 3,8-dibenzo-1,6-dithiacyclodecane demonstrates a convenient synthetic strategy over the multi-step synthesis of this macrocyclic dithioether.     

Synthetic and spectroscopic characterization of Rh(I)-( S )-amino acid complexes with diphosphine and triphosphine ligands

Reaction of [Rh(η⁴-cod)(S)-amino-acidato] ((S)-amino acidate?=?(S)-O₂C-CHR-NH₂; cod?=?cycloocta-1,5-diene) with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) affords the ionic [Rh(dppe)₂]{(S)-O₂C-CHR-NH₂} (R?=?Me, I; Ph, II) complexes. Reactions with 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) or 2,2,2-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane (triphos) give the neutral [Rh(dppp){(S)-O₂C-CHR-NH₂}] (R?=?Me, III; Ph, IV) or [Rh(η²-triphos){(S)-O₂C-CHR-NH₂}] (R?=?Me, V; Ph, VI) complexes. The complexes are characterized by elemental analysis, UV–Vis-, IR-, ¹H/³¹P{¹H} NMR- and mass-spectroscopy. Two molecules of dppe coordinate to the Rh(I) symmetrically by replacing both cod and (S)-amino acidate to give I–II. Only one molecule of dppp (or triphos) coordinate to the Rh(I) asymmetrically by replacing only cod to give III–VI. Two diastereomeric Rh(I)-complexes are present in V and VI. The results further suggest that the ligands are arranged in a distorted square planar geometry around the Rh(I) centre. The use of triphos instead of dppe or dppp yields the same coordination sphere.     

Synthesis and characterization of three nickel(ii) carborane complexes containing nido- or closo-carborane diphosphine ligand

Three nickel(II) carborane complexes, [Ni₂(μ-Cl)₂{7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}₂] (1), [Ni{7-(OPPh₂)-8-(PPh₂)-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}{7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] (2) and [NiBr₂{1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀}] · CH₂Cl₂ (3), have been synthesized by the reactions of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane with NiCl₂ · 6H₂O or NiBr₂ · 6H₂O in ethanol under different conditions, respectively. For complex 1, it could also be obtained under the solvothermal condition. All the three complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure determination. Single crystal analysis shows that the molecular symmetry of complex 1 is centrosymmetric, containing two same structure units - Ni(7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀) linked by two bridged-Cl atoms. The central square plane formed by the [Ni₂Cl₂] unit is almost parallel to the two side NiPP planes. For complex 2, the coordination environment of the Ni atom is a seriously distorted square-planar, in which two positions come from the chelating diphosphine ligand [7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻ degraded from the closo species, while the other two are occupied by an unsymmetrical chelating phosphine oxide ligand [7-(OPPh₂)-8-(PPh₂)-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻. As for complex 3, the geometry at the Ni atom is a slightly distorted square-planar. The closo carborane diphosphine ligand 1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ was coordinated bidentately to the metal ion through the two phosphorus atoms, and the two Br atoms are at cis position which can fulfill the four coordination mode of the metal.     

Bis(diphenylphosphano)alkan- und 1-(Diphenylphosphano)-2-(2-pyridino)ethan-N-Arylsulfinylamin-Nickel(0)-Komplexe

Bis(diphenylphosphano)alkane- and 1-Diphenylphosphano-2-(2-pyridino)ethane-N-arylsulfinylamine Nickel(0) Complexes Synthesis and properties of the bis(diphenylphosphano)alkane-N-phenyl-sulfinylamine-nickel(0) complexes [Ni{Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂}(PhNSO)] (n = 2 dppe, n = 3 dppp, n = 4 dppb) as well as of the 1-(diphenylphosphano)-2-(2-pyridino)ethane nickel(0) complexes [Ni(dpppe)₂], [Ni(dpppe)(p-TolNSO)] and [Ni(dpppe)(PPh₃)₂] are described. These compounds have been characterized by i. r. and ³¹P n.m.r. spectroscopy. The N-arylsulfinylamine ligands are η²-(N, S)-side on coordinated.     

Ruthenium carborane complexes: a relationship between the structure, electrochemical properties, and reactivity in catalysis of polymerization processes

The ruthenacarborane complexes of the exo-nido- and closo-structure, namely, diamagnetic exo-nido-5,6,10-[RuCl(PPh₃)₂]-5,6,10-(μ-H)₃-10-H-7,8-(CH₃)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₆, 3,3-[Ph₂P(CH₂) _n PPh₂]-3-H-3-Cl-closo-3,1,2-RuC₂B₉H₁₁ (n = 4, 5), paramagnetic 3,3-[Ph₂P(CH₂) _n PPh₂]-3-Cl-closo-3,1,2-RuC₂B₉H₁₁ (n = 2–5), and their some ortho-phenylenecycloboronated derivatives, were studied by cyclic voltammetry. All chelate closo-complexes are characterized by reversible redox transitions, while the exo-nido-complex is liable to irreversible oxidation. Shortening of the methylene link in the diphosphine ligand of closo-ruthenacarboranes and/or the introduction of ortho-phenylenecycloboronated moieties and methyl substituents to the carbon atoms of the {C₂B₉} ligand lead to a decrease in the redox potential and electron density redistribution to the metal atom. A comparison of the experimental results on methyl methacrylate polymerization in the presence of the catalytic systems based on the studied metallacarboranes with the data on their electrochemical characteristics suggests that the efficiency of using the ruthenium complexes as catalysts is mainly determined by steric factors.     

Synthesis and characterization of new HgS nanoparticles prepared by Hg(II)-triazole-3-thiol as precursor

Nine Hg(II) complexes, [Hg(DiphtS)₂(L-L)](2–7) {where, HDiphtS = 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol; L-L = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) (2); 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp)(3); 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb)(4); 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf)(5); 2,2′-bipyridine (Bipy)(6) and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen)(7) } or [Hg(DiphtS)₂(L)₂] (8–9) {where L = triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P) (8) and triphenylphosphine sulphide (Ph₃PS) (9)}, have been prepared form the reaction of [Hg(DiphtS)₂](1) with phosphine or amine as co-ligands. Then characterized by the IR, NMR (¹H and ³¹P) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, molar conductivity. The results supported the monodentate behaviour of HDiphtS ligand in all complexes (1–9) in anion form through the sulfur atom. Complexes 1, 2 and 6 have been used as single source precursors for the preparation of ethylene-diamine capped HgS-nanoparticles. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), have been used to characterize the HgS nanoparticles.     

Synthesis of the cyanamide-derived bis(cyanoimido) complexes trans-[M(NCN)2(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)2] (M = Mo or W) and crystal structure of the molybdenum compound

Reaction of cyanamide (NCNH₂) with trans-[M(N₂)₂(dppe)₂] (M = Mo or W, dppe = PH₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) leads to the formation of the bis(cyanoimido) complexes trans-[M(NCN)₂(dppe)₂]. The crystal structure of trans-[Mo(NCN)₂(dppe)₂] has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study.     

A cyclic voltammetric study of iron(II)/ruthenium(II) complexes with bis(tertiary phosphines)

Summary Nine complexes of Fe^IIRu^II with bis(tertiary phosphines), namely, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 1,2-bis (diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppen) and o-phenylenebis (diphenylphosphine) (o-diphos) were studied using cyclic voltammetry. The half-wave potentials for the complexes studied are: (1) [FeCl₂(dppe)], 0.050V; (2) [Fe(NCS)₂(dppe)₂], 0.265V; (3) [RuCl₂(dppe)₂], 0.548V; (4) [FeCl₂(dppen)₂], 0.225V; (5) [Fe(NCS)₂-(dppen)₂], 0.290V; (6) [RuCl₂(dppen)₂], 0.690V; (7) [FeCl₂(o-diphos)₂] 0.160V; (8) [Fe(NCS)₂(o-diphos)₂] 0.582V; and (9) [RuCl₂(o-diphos)₂], 0.265V. The redox potentials are related to the nature of the ligand, the nature of the metal, the stereochemistry of the complex and the ligand field strength.     

The Synthesis by Decarboxylation Reactions and Crystal Structures of 1, n–Bis(diphenylphosphino)alkane(pentafluorophenyl)‐platinum(II) Complexes

Decarboxylation reactions between the complexes cis–[PtCl₂L] (L = 1, n–bis(diphenylphosphino)–ethane (n = 2, dppe), –propane (n = 3, dppp) or –butane (n = 4, dppb)) and thallium(I) pentafluorobenzoate in pyridine give cis–[PtCl(C₆F₅)L] and cis–[Pt(C₆F₅)₂L] complexes in high yields with short reaction times. X–ray crystal structures of cis–[PtCl(C₆F₅)(dppe)] · 0.5 C₅H₅N, cis–[PtCl(C₆F₅)(dppp)], cis–[PtCl(C₆F₅)(dppb)] · C₃H₆O, cis–[Pt(C₆F₅)₂L] (L = dppe, dppp and dppb) and the reactants cis–[PtCl₂(dppp)] (as a CH₂Cl₂ solvate) and cis–[PtCl₂(dppb)] show monomeric structures with chelating diphosphine ligands in all cases rather than dimers with bridging diphosphines. ³¹P NMR data are consistent with these structures in solution.     

Controlled Synthesis of Diphosphine-Protected Gold Cluster Cations Using Magnetron Sputtering Method

We demonstrated, for the first time, atomically precise synthesis of gold cluster cations by magnetron sputtering of a gold target onto a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution of 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (Ph₂PCH₂CH₂CH₂PPh₂, dppp). UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry revealed the formation of cationic species, such as [Au(dppp)_n]⁺ (n = 1, 2), [Au₂(dppp)_n]²⁺ (n = 3, 4), [Au₆(dppp)_n]²⁺ (n = 3, 4), and [Au₁₁(dppp)₅]³⁺. The formation of [Au(dppp)₂]⁺ was ascribed to ionization of Au(dppp)₂ by the reaction with PEG, based on its low ionization energy, theoretically predicted, mass spectrometric detection of deprotonated anions of PEG. We proposed that [Au(dppp)₂]⁺ cations thus formed are involved as key components in the formation of the cluster cations.