Compounds of Gold in Unusual Oxidation States

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the compounds of gold in unusual oxidation states. Some of the most exciting developments in gold chemistry were initiated by the discovery of unusual oxidation states. As a general rule, the chemistry of metal ions in solution is characterized by the ability to form positive ions. The stable negative metal ions are well characterized only in the gas phase. Mercury forms a monoatomic vapor and behaves like an inert gas in this respect. Most of the cluster molecules or ions are stable to air and water and are easily characterized by modern physical techniques, although yields of most preparations are low. Application of other synthetic techniques, predominantly metal vapor methods, have added other cluster stoichiometries to this list, which presently includes Au 5 , Au 6 , Au 8 , Au 9 , and Au ll .