Intervalence of two planar chiral 2-methylferrocenyl groups over a diaurum bridge

Abstract

The electronic structure of recently reported diaurum (Au^I⋯Au^I and XAu^II–Au^IIX) complexes, containing two methylferrocenyloxazoline ligands are described. Oxidations occurred at the methylferrocenyl and the monocation complex containing Au^I⋯Au^I bridge was valence localized while the Au^II–Au^II complex was valence delocalized, i.e., Fe^2.5+/Fe^2.5+. These findings were supported by electrochemical, and spectroscopic measurements and further supported by computational analysis (DFT).