Synthesis of the molecular amalgam [{AuHg2(o-C6F4)3}{Hg3(o-C6F4)3}]−: a rare example of a heterometallic homoleptic metallacycle

Abstract

The preparation of homoleptic heterometallic complexes still remains a challenge. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of [Au(PMe₃)₂][{AuHg₂(o-C₆F₄)₃}{Hg₃(o-C₆F₄)₃}] (1), a gold–mercury homoleptic metallacycle. The crystal structure of 1 displays two [Hg₂M(o-C₆F₄)₃] (M = Au^I, Hg^II) units linked through a short Au⋯Hg contact of 3.097(2) Å, the strongest unsupported Au^I⋯Hg^II interaction described to date. Theoretical calculations quantify the interaction between the trimetalic units as −199 kJ mol⁻¹, a surprisingly strong value.