Tris(diphenylphosphino)methanide gold(III) complexes. Crystal structures of [Au(C6F5)2{(Ph2P)2CPPh2}] and [(F5C6)2Au{(Ph2P)2CPPh2}AuCl]

Abstract

The reaction of [Au(C₆F₅)₂(acac)](acac = acetylacetonate) with (Ph₂P)₃CH led to [Au(C₆F₅)₂-{(Ph₂P)₂CPPh₂}]1, which reacts further with [AuX(tht)](X = Cl or C₆F₅, tht = tetrahydrothiophene), [Au(tht)₂]ClO₄ or AgClO₄ to give dinuclear [(F₅C₆)₂Au{(Ph₂P)₂CPPh₂}AuX] or trinuclear complexes [{Au(C₆F₅)₂[(Ph₂P)₂CPPh₂]}₂M](M = Au or Ag). Complex 1 reacted with gold(III) complexes to give dinuclear [(F₅C₆)₂Au{( Ph₂P)₂CPPh₂}Au(C₆F₅)₂X](X = Cl or C₆F₅) or trinuclear complexes [{Au-(C₆F₅)₂[(Ph₂P)₂CPPh₂]}₂Au(C₆F₅)₂]. Complex 1 is protonated by reaction with HBF₄. The structures of complex 1 and [(F₅C₆)₂Au{(Ph₂P)₂CPPh₂}AuCl] have been established by X-ray crystallography, confirming in the latter that the gold(I) centre is co-ordinated to the free phosphorus instead of the methanide C.