Bidentate ligand transfer reactions between gold(I) complexes

Abstract

Reactions of the cationic derivative [Au₂(µ-Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂)₂][ClO₄]₂ with [AuX₂]^–(X = Cl or Br) in a 1 : 1 or a 1 : 2 molar ratio afforded tri- or di-nuclear derivatives, respectively. Neutral complexes [Au₂(µ-L–L)₂][L–L = S₂CNR₂(R = Me or CH₂Ph)] or [Au_n(µ-L–L)_n][L–L = S₂COR (R = Me or Et) or C₅H₄NS]react with the cationic [Au(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄ in 1 : 2 molar ratio, to give open-ring complexes [{Au(PPh₃)}₂(µ-L–L)]ClO₄. Reactions of the neutral complexes [Au₂(µ-S₂CNR₂)₂](R = Me or CH₂Ph) with cationic [Au₂(µ-P–P)₂][ClO₄]₂(P–P = Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂ or Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) led to the heterobridged dinuclear complexes [Au₂(µ-S₂CNR₂)(µ-P–P)]ClO₄. All these processes proceed via donor–acceptor intermediates, with bidentate ligand transfer.