Synthesis and low-frequency vibrational spectra of some bis(alkanethiolato)- and bis(benzenethiolato)-aurate(I) complexes

Abstract

Salts containing bis(alkanethiolato)aurate(I) ions, [Au(SR)₂]^–(R = Me or Bu^t), or bis(benzenethiolato) aurate(I) ions, [Au(SPh)₂]^–, have been prepared from the corresponding dihalogenoaurate(I) salts by displacement of halide by thiolate ion. No evidence is found for the formation of multinuclear thiolate-bridged complexes of the type previously postulated for the gold(I)–thiomalate system. The observation of single ν(Au–S) bands in the far-i.r. spectra of the [Au(SR)₂]^–(R = Me or Bu^t) salts is consistent with the presence of mononuclear anions in which gold(I) exhibits its usual linear two-co-ordination.