An overview of synthetic methodologies of organometallic and coordination compounds of gold

Abstract

Gold is an inert coinage metal forming stable coordination compounds with various ligands specifically N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). NHCs react with aurate salts as well as other inorganic salts of gold to form stable gold complexes. Gold complexes have been reported to have various applications in different fields such as biological, bio-chemical, luminescence, molecular recognition, optical switches, electronics and catalysis. In the current review, synthesis of gold complexes involves bonding through different linkages like “C, P, S, NC, OC, NS, PC, PS and SC” elements. The commonly used solvents for the synthesis of gold complexes are dichloromethane, THF, DMF, etc. These complexes were mostly reported at temperatures from −40 to 120 °C with continuous stirring, according to the nature of ligands. An overview on techniques in synthesis of gold complexes through various routes has been compiled.