Synthesis of aurocyanide and auricyanide complexes of phosphines,phosphine sulfides and phosphine selenides,and their characterization by IR,far-IR,UV solution,and solid-state NMR spectroscopic methods

A series of aurocyanide and auricyanide complexes of phosphines, phosphine sulfides, and phosphine selenides were synthesized. These new complexes have the general formula L _n Au(CN) _m ], where L could be Cy₃P, (2-CN-Et)₃P, Me₃PS, Et₃PS, Ph₃PS, Me₃PSe, or Ph₃PSe. Auricyanide was reacted with L at 1?:?2 ratio. Products were characterized using elemental analysis, melting point, UV, IR, far-IR solution, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Phosphine ligands cause gold(III) reduction to gold(I); less redox tendency was found for phosphine sulfides and phosphine selenides. Tri-coordinate complexes L₂AuCN] were produced from phosphine ligands with gold-tetracyanide. IR and UV spectroscopic methods were used to identify gold oxidation state in the synthesized complexes.