Single-crystal to single-crystal synthesis of a gold(i)-ammonia complex and H/D exchange in crystallo with D2O

Abstract

Single-crystal to single-crystal solid/gas reactivity of [LAu(C₂H₄/CO)][BAr^F₄] [L = tris-2-(4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl)phosphine] with NH₃ or ¹⁵NH₃ gives the ammonia complexes [LAu(NH₃/¹⁵NH₃)][BAr^F₄]. Solid–gas H/D exchange with D₂O vapour gives the ND₃ isotopologues, while reaction with HCl vapour affords [1-Cl]/[¹⁵NH₄][BAr^F₄], identifying a lattice encapsulated ammonium as a plausible intermediate species for H/D exchange with D₂O by a proton rebound mechanism.