The preparation, properties and X-ray structures of gold(I) trithiophosphite complexes

The first gold(I) trithiophosphite complexes were synthesised and fully characterised. Reaction of (tht)AuX (X = Cl, C₆F₅; tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with trithiophosphites (RS)₃P (R = Me, Ph) and the bicyclic (SCH₂CH₂S)PSCH₂]₂ (²L) afforded the corresponding molecular complexes (RS)₃PAuX R = Me, X = Cl (1); R = Me, X = C₆F₅ (2); R = Ph, X = Cl (3); R = Ph, X = C₆F₅ (4)], and ²L(AuX)₂ X = Cl (5), X = C₆F₅ (6)]. Reacting (tht)AuCl consecutively with two mole equivalents of (MeS)₃P and then AgOTf, gave the ionic compound {(MeS)₃P]₂Au}OTf (7). The compounds were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR measurements and mass spectrometry, and the crystal and molecular structures of 1, 3, 6, two polymorphs of 2 as well as the known (MeO)₃PAuCl (8) were determined by X-ray diffraction. The halide complexes 1 and 8 are isostructural and exhibit infinite chains of “crossed-sword”-type aurophilic interactions with Au?Au contact distances of 3.2942(3) and 3.1635(4) Å, respectively. Complex 6 exhibits a long Au?Au contact of 3.4671(9) Å. Au?S interactions between 3.3455(7) and 3.520(2) Å are present in the structures of 1 and one polymorph of 2.