Michael J. Irwin

Controlled Self-Assembly of Cyclic Gold(I) Complexes: The First Family of Organometallic Catenanes

The value of n in Ph(2)P(CH(2))(n)PPh(2) controls whether a simple ring or a [2]catenane is formed in the reaction with a digold(I) diacetylide. Simple macrocyclic gold complexes are obtained for n=2 and the family of organometallic [2]catenanes for n=4 and 5 (see structure); a mixture of these products as well as a third isomer results when n=3.

Kontrollierte Selbstorganisation von cyclischen Gold(I)‐Komplexen: eine neue Klasse metallorganischer Catenane

Die Grose vonn in Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2 entscheidet daruber, ob ein einfacher Makrocyclus oder ein [2]Catenan in der Reaktion des Diphosphans mit einem Digold(I)-diacetylid gebildet wird. Makrocyclische Goldkomplexe werden bei n=2 und metallorganische [2]Catenane (siehe Abbildung) bei n=4 und 5 erhalten; ein Gemisch aus diesen Produkten und einer dritten Verbindung entsteht fur n=3.

Trigold triacetylides: polymerization through gold···gold bonding or bridging ligands

The new trigold(I) triacetylide [C 6 H 3 (CCAu) 3 -1,3,5] reacts with monodentate ligands, L = isocyanide, phosphite or phosphine, to give [C 6 H 3 (CCAuL) 3 -1,3,5] complexes which form polymeric solids with intermolecular Au···Au bonding; it also reacts with bidentate ligands to give covalently linked network polymers of the formula [{C 6 H 3 (CCAu) 3 -1,3,5} 2 (µ-L–L) 3 ], L–L = diisocyanide or diphosphine.

A strategy for synthesis of large gold rings

26- and 34-membered rings containing four gold(I) centres are prepared by using a synthetic strategy based on the orienting effects of intramolecular gold⋯gold attractions in binuclear precursors.