Replacement of the chloride ligand in [Au(C,N,N)Cl][PF6] cyclometallated complexes by C, N, O and S donor anionic ligands

Abstract

Replacement of the chloride ligand in the cyclometallated complexes [Au(C,N,N)Cl][PF₆] (C,N,N = N₂C₁₀H₇(CH₂C₆H₄)-6 1, N₂C₁₀H₇(CHMeC₆H₄)-6 2, or N₂C₁₀H₇(CMe₂C₆H₄)-6 3, where N₂C₁₀H₈ = 2,2′-bipy) by C, N, O and S donor anionic ligands Y was accomplished through different routes depending both on the nature of HY or the C,N,N ligand. Stable alkoxo [Au(C,N,N)(OR)][PF₆] (R = Me or Et) and amido [Au(C,N,N)(NHAr)][PF₆] (Ar = C₆H₄NO₂-4) complexes were obtained in fairly good yields. The molecular structure of the thiolato complex [Au{N₂C₁₀H₇(CMe₂C₆H₄)-6}(SPh)][PF₆] has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The diorganogold(III) complex [Au(C,N,N)(C₂Ph)][PF₆] on addition of PPh₃ (1∶2) undergoes reductive elimination to give [Au(PPh₃)₂][PF₆] and an unsymmetric diarylacetylene.