Polymeric and macrocyclic gold(I) complexes with bridging dithiolate and diphosphine ligands

• Published in: Inorganica Chimica Acta Vol. 359; no. 11; pp. 3605 - 3616
• Main Authors: Hunks, William J., Jennings, Michael C., Puddephatt, Richard J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2006
• Subjects: Diphosphine; Dithiolate; Gold; Macrocycle; Polymer; Ring-opening polymerization; Ring-opening polymerization; Gold; Polymer; Diphosphine; Dithiolate; Macrocycle
• ISSN: 0020-1693; 1873-3255
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2006.01.018

The self-assembly of gold(I) with dithiolate and diphosphine ligands usually gives macrocyclic complexes in solution, but ring-opening polymerization can occur during crystallization. The reaction of digold(I) diphosphine complexes [Au 2(O 2CCF 3) 2(μ-Ph 2P–X–PPh 2)] with dithiols HS–Y–SH can give either macrocyclic complexes [Au 2(μ-S–Y–S)(μ-Ph 2P–X–PPh 2)] or polymeric complexes [Au 2(μ-S–Y–S)(μ-Ph 2P–X–PPh 2)] n . The structures of the macrocyclic complex [Au 2{μ-(S-4-C 6H 4) 2S}{μ-Ph 2P(CH 2) 4PPh 2}], and the polymeric complexes [Au n {μ-(S–CH 2CO 2CH 2CH 2O) 2-1,4-C 6H 4} n (μ- trans-Ph 2PCH CHPPh 2) n ] and [Au n {μ-(S–CH 2CO 2CH 2CH 2O) 2-1,5-C 10H 6} n (μ- trans-Ph 2PCH CHPPh 2) n ] have been determined. Evidence is presented that the complexes exist primarily as macrocycles in solution and that, in favorable cases, ring-opening polymerization occurs during crystallization.