Highly luminescent gold(I)-silver(I) and gold(I)-copper(I) chalcogenide clusters

The reactions of [AuClL] with Ag(2)O, where L represents the heterofunctional ligands PPh(2)py and PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)py, give the trigoldoxonium complexes [O(AuL)(3)]BF(4). Treatment of these compounds with thio- or selenourea affords the triply bridging sulfide or selenide derivatives [E(AuL)(3)]BF(4) (E=S, Se). These trinuclear species react with Ag(OTf) or [Cu(NCMe)(4)]PF(6) to give different results, depending on the phosphine and the metal. The reactions of [E(AuPPh(2)py)(3)]BF(4) with silver or copper salts give [E(AuPPh(2)py)(3)M](2+) (E=O, S, Se; M=Ag, Cu) clusters that are highly luminescent. The silver complexes consist of tetrahedral Au(3)Ag clusters further bonded to another unit through aurophilic interactions, whereas in the copper species two coordination isomers with different metallophilic interactions were found. The first is analogous to the silver complexes and in the second, two [S(AuPPh(2)py)(3)](+) units bridge two copper atoms through one pyridine group in each unit. The reactions of [E(AuPPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)py)(3)]BF(4) with silver and copper salts give complexes with [E(AuPPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)py)(3)M](2+) stoichiometry (E=O, S, Se; M=Ag, Cu) with the metal bonded to the three nitrogen atoms in the absence of AuM interactions. The luminescence of these clusters has been studied by varying the chalcogenide, the heterofunctional ligand, and the metal.     

Luminescent homo- and heteropolynuclear platinum(II) chalcogenido aggregates based on [Pt2E2(P empty set N)4] units (E=S,Se)

A series of homodinuclear platinum(II) complexes containing bridging chalcogenido ligands, [Pt(2)(mu-E)(2)(P empty set N)(4)] (P empty set N=dppy, E=S (1), Se (2); P empty set N=tBu-dppy, E=S (3)) (dppy=2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine, tBu-dppy=4-tert-butyl-2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. The nucleophilicity of the [Pt(2)E(2)] unit towards a number of d(10) metal ions and complexes has been demonstrated through the successful isolation of a number of novel heteropolynuclear platinum(II)-copper(I), -silver(I), and -gold(I) complexes: [[Pt(2)(mu(3)-E)(2)(dppy)(4)](2)Ag(3)](PF(6))(3) (E=S (4); Se (5)) and [Pt(2)(dppy)(4)(mu(3)-E)(2)M(2)(dppm)]X(2) (E=S, M=Ag, X=BF(4) (6); E=S, M=Cu, X=PF(6) (7); E=S, M=Au, X=PF(6) (8); E=Se, M=Ag, X=PF(6) (9); E=Se, M=Au, X=PF(6) (10)). Some of them display short metal.metal contacts. These complexes have been found to possess interesting luminescence properties. Through systematic comparison studies, the emission origin has been probed.     

Gold(I) and silver(I) complexes containing a tripodal tetraphosphine ligand: influence of the halogen and stoichiometry on the properties. The X-ray crystal structure of two gold(I) dimeric aggregates

Complexes of the type [Au2(micro-PP3)2]X2 [X=Cl (), Br (), I ()], [Ag2(micro-PP3)2](NO3)2 (), Ag(PP3)Cl (), M3(micro-PP3)X3 [M=Au, X=Cl (), Br (), I (); M=Ag, X=NO3 ()] and Au4(micro-PP3)X4 [X=Cl (), Br (), I ()] have been prepared by interaction between gold(I) or silver(I) salts and the ligand tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine (PP3) in the appropriate molar ratio. Microanalysis, mass spectrometry, IR and NMR spectroscopies and conductivity measurements were used for characterization. and are ionic dinuclear species containing four-coordinate gold(i) and four/three coordinate silver(i), respectively. Solutions of behave as mixtures of complexes in a 2:1 [Au2(micro-PP3)X2; X=Cl(), Br(), I()] and 4:1 () metal to ligand ratio. and react with free PP(3) in solution to generate the ionic compounds and , respectively. Complexes and , with four linear PAuX fragments per molecule, were shown by X-ray diffraction to consist of dimeric aggregates via close intermolecular gold(I)gold(I) contacts of 3.270 A () and 3.184 A (). The resultant octanuclear systems have an inversion center with two symmetry-related gold(I) atoms being totally out of the aurophilic area and represent a new form of aggregation compared to that found in other halo complexes of gold(I) containing polyphosphines. The luminescence properties of the ligand and complexes, in the solid state, have been studied. Most of the gold systems display intense luminescent emission at room and low temperature. The influence of the halogen on the aurophilic contacts of compounds with a 4:1 metal to ligand ratio results in different photophysical properties, while and are luminescent complex is nonemissive. The luminescence increases with increasing the phosphine/metal ratio affording for complexes , without aurophilic contacts, the stronger emissions. Silver complexes and are nonemissive at room temperature and show weaker emissions than gold(I) species at 77 K.     

Dicoordinate copper(I) silanechalcogenolates

The copper silanechalcogenolates tBu3PCuESiPh3 (1, E = O; 2, E = S; 3, E = Se) were prepared from the reaction of [tBu3PCu(CH3CN)3]BF4 with [Ph3SiELi(THF)2]2 in acetonitrile. The compounds were obtained as colorless, crystalline, but thermally labile solids. X-ray crystallography shows that complexes 1-3 are monomeric in the solid state with no Cu...Cu interactions. The Cu atoms have either a linear or a near-linear coordination geometry in all three complexes. Interestingly, the O atom in complex 1 is also linear, which is in contrast to the highly bent S (2) and Se analogues (3). Density functional theory calculations suggest that both the linear geometry of 1 and an associated extremely short Cu-O distance [1.769(4) A] are not the result of pi delocalization but are the result of a fine balance of electrostatic interaction and Pauli repulsion.     

Group 11 complexes with unsymmetrical P,S and P,Se disubstituted ferrocene ligands

The reaction of the unsymmetrical ligands 1-diphenylphosphino-1'-(phenylsulfanyl)ferrocene and 1-diphenylphosphino-1'-(phenylselenyl)ferrocene, Fc(EPh)PPh2(E = S, Se), with several group 11 metal derivatives leads to the synthesis of complexes of the type [MX{Fc(EPh)PPh2}](M = Au, X = Cl, C6F5; M = Ag, X = OTf), (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate), [M{Fc(EPh)PPh2}2]X (M = Au, X = ClO4; M = Ag, X = OTf), [M(PPh3){Fc(EPh)PPh2}]OTf (M = Au, Ag), [Au2{Fc(SPh)PPh2}2](ClO4)2, [Au(C6F5)2{Fc(SePh)PPh2}]ClO4, [Au(C6F5)3{Fc(EPh)PPh2}], [Au2(C6F5)6{Fc(SePh)PPh2}] or [Cu{Fc(EPh)PPh2}2]PF6(E = S, Se). In these complexes coordination depends upon the metal centre; with gold it takes place predominantly to the phosphorus atom and with silver and copper to both phosphorus and chalcogen atoms. The treatment of some of the gold complexes with other metal centres affords heterometallic derivatives that in some cases are in equilibrium with the homometallic derivatives. Several compounds have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, four pairs of homologous compounds, yet not a single pair is isotypic. In many of them a three dimensional network is formed through secondary bonds such as hydrogen bonds, Au...Cl or Au...Se interactions. The complex [Ag(OTf){Fc(SePh)PPh2}] forms one-dimensional chains through trifluoromethanesulfonate bridging ligands.     

Differing Coordination Modes of (O‐Alkyl)‐p‐Ethoxyphenyldithiophosphonato Ligands in Copper(I), Silver(I) and Gold(I) Triphenylphosphine Complexes

The three (O‐methyl)‐p‐ethoxyphenyldithiophosphonato triphenylphosphine complexes of copper, silver and gold, [(Ph₃P)_nM{S₂P(OMe)C₆H₄OEt‐p}] (M = Cu, n = 2; M = Ag, Au, n = 1) investigated structurally by X‐ray diffraction exhibit remarkable structural differences. The copper compound is a four‐coordinate chelate monomer with Cu–S 2.4417(6) and 2.5048(6) Å; P–Cu–S 104.24(2)–114.01(2)°; Cu–S–P 82.49(3)° and 80.85(2)°. The silver compound is a cyclic dimer with bridging dithiophosphonato ligands and three‐coordinate silver atoms [Ag–S 2.5371(5) and 2.6867(5) Å; P–Ag–S 122.88(2)° and 122.17(2)°; Ag–S–P 89.32(2)° and 103.56(2)°]. The gold compound is monomeric with linear dicoordinate gold [Au–S 2.3218(6) Å; P–Au–S 177.72(2)°, Au–S–P 100.97(3)°].     

Molecular design of luminescence ion probes for various cations based on weak gold(I)...gold(I) interactions in dinuclear gold(I) complexes

A series of luminescent dinuclear gold(I) complexes with different crown ether pendants, [Au(2)(PwedgeP)(S-B15C5)(2)] [S-B15C5 = 4'-mercaptobenzo-15-crown-5, P(wedge)P = bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane (dcpm) (1), bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) (2)] and [Au(2)(P(wedge)P)(S-B18C6)(2)] [S-B18C6 = 4'-mercaptobenzo-18-crown-6, P(wedge)P = dcpm (3), dppm (4)], and their related crown-free complexes, [Au(2)(P(wedge)P)(SC(6)H(3)(OMe)(2)-3,4)(2)] [P(wedge)P = dcpm (5), dppm (6)], were synthesized. The low-energy emission of the mercaptocrown ether-containing gold(I) complexes are tentatively assigned as originated from states derived from a S --> Au ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transition. The crown ether-containing gold(I) complexes showed specific binding abilities toward various metal cations according to the ring size of the crown pendants. Spectroscopic evidence was provided for the metal-ion-induced switching on of the gold...gold interactions upon the binding of particular metal ions in a sandwich binding mode.     

Cluster core controlled reactions of substitution of terminal bromide ligands by triphenylphosphine in octahedral rhenium chalcobromide complexes

Reactions of rhenium chalcobromides Cs4[{Re6(mu3-S)8}Br6].2H2O, Cs3[{Re6(mu3-Se)8}Br6].2H2O, Cs3[{Re6(mu3-Q)7(mu3-Br)}Br6].H2O (Q = S, Se), and K2[{Re6(mu3-S)6(mu3-Br)2}Br6] with molten triphenylphosphine (PPh3) have resulted in a family of novel molecular hybrid inorganic-organic cluster compounds. Six octahedral rhenium cluster complexes containing PPh3 ligands with general formula [{Re6(mu3-Q)8-n(mu3-Br)n}(PPh3)4-nBrn+2] (Q = S, n = 0, 1, 2; Q = Se, n = 0, 1) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and elemental analyses, 31P{1H} NMR, luminescent measurements, and quantum-chemical calculations. It was found that the number of terminal PPh3 ligands in the complexes is controlled by the composition and consequently by the charge of the cluster core {Re6Q8-nBrn}n+2. In crystal structures of the complexes with mixed chalcogen/bromine ligands in the cluster core all positions of a cube [Q8-nBrn] are ordered and occupied exclusively by Q or Br atoms. Luminescence characteristics of the compounds trans-[{Re6Q8}(PPh3)4Br2] and fac-[{Re6Se7Br}(PPh3)3Br3] (Q = S, Se) have been investigated in CH2Cl2 solution and the broad emission spectra in the range of 600-850 nm were observed.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of linear Au(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: New analogues of the Au(I) phosphine drug Auranofin

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of neutral Au(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes [(NHC)AuX] (X = Cl and 2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-1-thiolato) are reported. The chloro complexes were synthesised either by reaction of the appropriate 1,3-dialkylimidazol-2-ylidene with [(Me₂S)AuCl] or by transmetallation between the appropriate Ag(I)–NHC complex and [(Me₂S)AuCl]. The 2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-1-thiolato complexes were prepared from the appropriate [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] complex and 2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranose under basic conditions. A cationic Au(I)–NHC triphenylphosphine adduct was also prepared. Structural studies (X-ray diffraction) of a number of the complexes show that in each case the gold atom is (quasi-) linearly two-coordinate, having C–Au–Cl, C–Au–S or C–Au–P coordination. In one case, a new phase of [(Cy₂Im)AuCl], the molecules pack pair-wise with a close Au⋯Au interaction (3.1566(6) Å). Preliminary studies show this complex is luminescent in the solid state.     

Synthesis,structural characterization,and photophysical studies of hexanuclear gold(I) chalcogenido complexes

A hexanuclear gold(I) selenido cluster and its sulfido counterpart, [Au₆{μ‐Ph₂PN(CH₂‐o‐Py)PPh₂}₃(μ₃‐E)₂](ClO₄)₂ (E = S, Se), with bridging bis(diphenylphosphino)amine ligands were synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray crystal structure of the selenido cluster was determined, with the gold core possessing a distorted heterocubane structure. Intramolecular aurophilic interactions with short Au(I)?Au(I) contacts of around 3.09–3.13 Å were observed. The complexes were found to emit strongly in the solid state with orange to red emission colors. Their electronic absorption and emission properties were also investigated.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and characterization of new tetranuclear Ag(I) complexes with triazole bridges

The self-assembly of Ag(I) ions with 3,5-dimethyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L1) and 4-salicylideneamino-1,2,4-triazole (L2) gave two novel complexes, [Ag4(mu2-L1)6][Ag4(mu2-L1)6(CH3CN)2](ClO4)8.2H2O (1) and [Ag4(mu2-L2)6(CH3CN)2](AsF6)4.2H2O (2), both of which contain tetranuclearic clusters constructed via Ag(I) ions and six N1,N2-bridged triazoles with a Ag4N12 core. When 4-(6-amino-2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole (L3) was employed, {[Ag4(mu2-L3)4(mu3-L3)2](CF3SO3)4.H2O}n (3), {[Ag4(mu2-L3)4(mu3-L3)2](ClO4)4}n (4), and {[Ag4(mu2-L3)2(mu3-L3)4](PF6)4.CH3CN.0.75H2O}n (5) were isolated. 3 and 4 are 1D polymers, while 5 is a 2D polymer. 1D and 2D coordination polymers are constructed via the self-assembly of Ag4N12 cores as secondary building units (SBUs). The connection of these SBUs can be represented as a ladderlike structure for 1D polymers and a 4.8(2) net for 2D polymers. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry measurements and NMR (1H and 13C) studies demonstrate that the tetranuclear SBU retains its integrity and the coordination polymers decompose into the tetranuclear Ag4N12 core in solution. 2 exhibits blue emission in the solid state and green emission in solution at ambient temperature. Strong blue fluorescence for complexes 3-5 in the solid state can be assigned to the intraligand fluorescent emission.     

Luminescent di- and polynuclear organometallic gold(I)-metal (Au2, {Au2Ag}n and {Au2Cu}n) compounds containing bidentate phosphanes as active antimicrobial agents

The reaction of new dinuclear gold(I) organometallic complexes containing mesityl ligands and bridging bidentate phosphanes [Au(2)(mes)(2)(μ-LL)] (LL=dppe: 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphano)ethane 1a, and water-soluble dppy: 1,2-bis(di-3-pyridylphosphano)ethane 1b) with Ag(+) and Cu(+) lead to the formation of a family of heterometallic clusters with mesityl bridging ligands of the general formula [Au(2)M(μ-mes)(2) (μ-LL)][A] (M=Ag, A=ClO(4)(-), LL=dppe 2a, dppy 2b; M=Ag, A=SO(3)CF(3)(-), LL=dppe 3a, dppy 3b; M=Cu, A=PF(6)(-), LL=dppe 4a, dppy 4b). The new compounds were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometry The crystal structures of [Au(2)(mes)(2)(μ-dppy)] (1b) and [Au(2)Ag(μ-mes)(2)(μ-dppe)][SO(3)CF(3)] (3a) were determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. 3a in solid state is not a cyclic trinuclear Au(2)Ag derivative but it gives an open polymeric structure instead, with the {Au(2)(μ-dppe)} fragments "linked" by {Ag(μ-mes)(2)} units. The very short distances of 2.7559(6)?? (Au-Ag) and 2.9229(8)?? (Au-Au) are indicative of gold-silver (metallophilic) and aurophilic interactions. A systematic study of their luminescence properties revealed that all compounds are brightly luminescent in solid state, at room temperature (RT) and at 77?K, or in frozen DMSO solutions with lifetimes in the microsecond range and probably due to the self-aggregation of [Au(2)M(μ-mes)(2)(μ-LL)](+) units (M=Ag or Cu; LL=dppe or dppy) into an extended chain structure, through Au-Au and/or Au-M metallophilic interactions, as that observed for 3a. In solid state the heterometallic Au(2)M complexes with dppe (2a-4a) show a shift of emission maxima (from ca. 430 to the range of 520-540?nm) as compared to the parent dinuclear organometallic product 1a while the complexes with dppy (2b-4b) display a more moderate shift (505 for 1b to a max of 563?nm for 4b). More importantly, compound [Au(2)Ag(μ-mes)(2)(μ-dppy)]ClO(4) (2b) resulted luminescent in diluted DMSO solution at room temperature. Previously reported compound [Au(2)Cl(2)(μ-LL)] (LL dppy 5b) was also studied for comparative purposes. The antimicrobial activity of 1-5 and Ag[A] (A=ClO(4)(-), SO(3)CF(3)(-)) against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and yeast was evaluated. Most tested compounds displayed moderate to high antibacterial activity while heteronuclear Au(2)M derivatives with dppe (2a-4a) were the more active (minimum inhibitory concentration 10 to 1?μg?mL(-1)). Compounds containing silver were ten times more active to gram-negative bacteria than the parent dinuclear compound 1a or silver salts. Au(2)Ag compounds with dppy (2b, 3b) were also potent against fungi.     

Synthesis of luminescent gold(I) and gold(III) complexes with a triphosphine ligand

We have synthesized and characterized a series of trinuclear gold(I) complexes [(AuX)(3)(mu-triphos)] (triphos = bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine; X = Cl 1, Br 2, I 3, C(6)F(5) 4) and di- and trinuclear gold(III) complexes [[Au(C(6)F(5))(3)](n)(mu-triphos)] (n = 2 (5), 3 (6)). The crystal structure of 6 [[Au(C(6)F(5))(3)](3)(mu-triphos)] has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies, which show the triphosphine in a conformation resulting in very long gold-gold distances, probably associated with the steric requirements of the tris(pentafluorophenyl)gold(III) units. Complex 6 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P(-1) with a = 12.7746(16) A, b = 18.560(2) A, c = 21.750(3) A, alpha = 98.215(3) degrees, beta = 101.666(3) degrees, gamma = 96.640(3) degrees, and Z = 2. Chloride substitutions in complex 1 afford trinuclear gold(I) complexes [(AuX)(3)(mu-triphos)] (X = Fmes (1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) 7, p-SC(6)H(4)Me 8, SCN 9) and [Au(3)Cl(3)(-)(n)()(S(2)CNR(2))(n)(mu-triphos)] (R = Me, n = 3 (10), 2 (12), 1 (14); R = CH(2)Ph, n = 3 (11), 2 (13), 1 (15)). The luminescence properties of these complexes in the solid state have been studied; at low temperature most of them are luminescent, including the gold(III) derivative 6, with the intensity and the emission maxima being clearly influenced by the nature and the number of the ligands bonded to the gold centers.     

Synthesis and characterization of norfloxacin-transition metal complexes (group 11, IB): spectroscopic, thermal, kinetic measurements and biological activity

The investigation of the new structures of Ag(I), Cu(II) and Au(III) complexes, [Ag(2)(Nor)(2)](NO(3))(2), [Cu(Nor)(2)(H(2)O)(2)]SO(4).5H(2)O and [Au(Nor)(2) (H(2)O)(2)]Cl(3) (where, Nor=norfloxacin) was done during the reaction of silver(I), copper(II) and gold(III) ions with norfloxacin drug ligand. Elemental analysis of CHN, infrared, electronic, (1)H NMR and mass spectra, as well as thermo gravimetric analysis (TG and DTG) and conductivity measurements have been used to characterize the isolated complexes. The powder XRD studies confirm the amorphous nature of the complexes. The norfloxacin ligand is coordinated to Ag(I) and Au(III) ions as a neutral monodentate chelating through the N atom of piperidyl ring, but the copper(II) complex is coordinated through the carbonyl oxygen atom (quinolone group) and the oxygen atom of the carboxylic group. The norfloxacin and their metal complexes have been biologically tested, which resulted in norfloxacin complexes showing moderate activity against the gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as against fungi.     

Tetranuclear Gold(I) Clusters with Nitrogen Donor Ligands: Luminescence and X-Ray Structure of Gold(I) Naphthyl Amidinate Complex

The syntheses and characterization of gold(I) naphthyl, pentafluorophenyl, and trifluoromethylphenyl amidinate complexes are reported. The tetranuclear clusters are obtained from the reaction of Au(tetrahydrothiophene)Cl with the potassium salt of the corresponding amidinate in a THF solvent. The crystal structures of the gold(I) naphthyl, 2, and pentafluorophenyl, 3, amidinates show a short Au···Au distance of ~3. 0 Å typical of compounds having an aurophilic interaction. The gold atoms are arranged in a square (Au···Au···Au = 87°–92°) in the pentafluorophenyl derivative and in a parallelogram (Au···Au···Au = 68°–110°) in the naphthyl amidinate complexes. The naphthyl and trifluoromethylphenyl complexes are visibly luminescent in the solid state at liquid nitrogen temperature displaying asymmetric emission bands at 538 and 473 nm, respectively. The luminescent lifetimes of these species are in the millisecond range indicating phosphorescent processes.     

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.     

Metallophilic bonding and agostic interactions in gold(I) and silver(I) complexes bearing a thiotetrazole unit

Gold(I) and silver(I) complexes of 1-methyl-5-thio-tetrazole (1) have been prepared and the coordination chemistry of this ligand toward metal-phosphine frameworks has been explored. As indicated by IR and Raman data, ligand 1 is deprotonated and the resulted anion acts as a bidentate (S,N)-tetrazole-5-thiolato unit in the new gold(I) complexes, [Au(SCN(4)Me)(PPh(3))] (2), [{Au(SCN(4)Me)}(2)(μ-dppm)] (3), and [{Au(SCN(4)Me)}(2)(μ-dppe)] (4), while it is coordinated only through the sulfur atom as its neutral tetrazole-5-thione form in the silver(I) derivative, [Ag(HSCN(4)Me)(PPh(3))](2)(OTf)(2) (5). Further characterization of the new compounds was performed using multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, (31)P, (19)F) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and DSC measurements. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed basically linear P-M-S arrangements in complexes 3-5. The bidentate (S,N) coordination pattern results in a T-shaped (S,N)PAu core in 3 and 4, whereas, in 5, a similar coordination geometry is achieved in the dimer association based on S-bridging ligand 1. Herein, weak (C)H···Au and (C)H···Ag agostic interactions were observed. An intramolecular Au···Au contact occurs in 3, while in 4 intermolecular aurophilic bonds lead to formation of a chain polymer. An intermolecular Ag···Ag contact is also present in the dimer unit of 5. Low-temperature (31)P NMR data for 5 evidenced the presence of monomer and dimer units in solution. Theoretical calculations on model of the complexes 2 and 4 are consistent with the geometries found by X-ray diffraction studies.     

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.     

Multiple emissions and brilliant white luminescence from gold(I) O,O'-di(alkyl)dithiophosphate dimers

The Au(I) dimers Au(2)[S(2)P(OR)(2)](2) for R = Me, Et are found to exhibit a structure in which aurophilic interactions yield one-dimensional Au...Au chains with intermolecular contacts (3.09-3.16 A) similar to the Au...Au distances within the dimers (3.10-3.18 A). The dimers are luminescent in the solid state and become brilliantly emissive at low temperatures. At 77 K, Au(2)[S(2)P(OMe)(2)](2) shows multiple emission bands. The two higher energy bands at 415 and 456 nm are assigned to (1)MC and (3)MC on the basis of lifetime measurements (20 ns and 2.16 micros, respectively) and concentration-related effects, while the lower energy band at 560 nm is attributed to a LMCT excited state. In frozen glasses of different solvents, Au(2)[S(2)P(OMe)(2)](2) as well as the Et and n-Pr derivatives exhibit a bright luminescence of different colors and striking thermochromism of the emission.     

Photoluminescence properties of four-coordinate gold(I)-phosphine complexes of the types [Au(diphos)2]PF6 and [Au2(tetraphos)2](PF6)2

Numerous reports describe the photoluminescence of two- and three-coordinate gold(I)-phosphine complexes, but emission in their analogous four-coordinate complexes is almost unknown. This work examines the luminescence of tetrahedral gold(I) complexes of the types [Au(diphos)(2)]PF(6) (diphos = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, 1) and [Au(2)(tetraphos)(2)](PF(6))(2) (tetraphos = (R,R)-(+/-)/(R,S)-1,1,4,7,10,10-hexaphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetraphosphadecane, (R,R)-(+/-)/(R,S)-2). Although nonemitting in solution, these complexes luminesce with an intense yellow color (lambda(max) 580-620 nm) at 293 K in the solid state or when immobilized as molecular dispersions within solid matrixes. The excited-state lifetimes of the emissions (tau 4.1-9.4 micros) are markedly dependent on the inter- and intramolecular phenyl-phenyl pairing interactions present. At 77 K in an ethanol glass, two transitions are observed: a minor emission at lambda(max) 415-450 nm and a major emission at lambda(max) 520-595 nm. For [Au(1)(2)]PF(6), lifetimes of tau 251.0 +/- 20.5 micros were determined for the former transition and tau 14.9 +/- 4.6 micros for the latter. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and comparative studies indicate that the former of these emissions involves triplet LMCT pi(Ph) --> Au(d)-P(p) transitions associated with individual P-phenyl groups. The latter emissions, which are the only ones observed at 293 K, are assigned to LMCT pi(Ph-Ph) --> Au(d)-P(p) transitions associated with excited P-phenyl dimers. Other tetrahedral gold(I)-phosphine complexes containing paired P-Ph substituents display similar emissions. The corresponding phosphine ligands, whether free, protonated, or bound to Ag(I), do not exhibit comparable emissions. Far from being rare, luminescence in four-coordinate Au(I)-phosphine complexes appears to be general when stacked P-phenyl groups are present.