Abstract: | Rod-like organogold(I) complexes AuR(CNC6H4O(O)CC6H4OC10H21-p)] were prepared and their liquid crystal behaviour was studied. Depending on the nature of R, the synthetic methodology was different. Thus, for R = substituted alkynyl ligands, the new compounds were prepared in two steps:(i) reaction of AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with R′C CH(R′ = C5H4N, C6H4C N, C6H4C CC5H4N) in the presence of NaOAc to give insoluble Au(C CR′)]n; (ii) reaction of the latter polymers with the isonitrile CNC6H4O(O)CC6H4OC10H21-p.For R = fluorinated aryls, the complexes were prepared by displacement of tht from the compounds AuR(tht)] (R = C5F4N, C6F4C5H4N, C6F5) with isonitrile.In addition, an unexpected ionic derivative Au(C CC5H4NC10H21)2]Au(C CC5H4N)2] was formed in the reaction between PPh4]Au(C CC5H4N)2] and C10H21I. All these compounds have been characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The X-ray crystal structure of the compound with R = C CC5H4N shows a linear molecule in which the gold atom is surrounded by the pyridine-containing acetylene and the isonitrile ligand, and no direct gold-gold interaction occurs. Six of the neutral compounds are liquid crystals and their optical, thermal and thermodynamic data were analyzed and compared in terms of molecular polarizability. |