Hydrogen Bonding Networks in Bis(amine)gold(I) Complexes with Disulfonylamide Anions

Abstract

The use of disulfonylamines as counter-ions allows the synthesis of stable ionic gold(I) complexes with the amine ligands cyclohexylamine, benzylamine, 3-iodobenzylamine, morpholine, pyrrolidine, and piperidine. There is a considerable increase in stability for the morpholine complex compared to the previously synthesised chloro derivative; the benzylamine derivatives displayed better solubility and crystallinity than their chloro analogues. The use of silver disulfonylamine derivatives in the syntheses led in two cases to the incorporation of silver into the products, with concomitantly poor yields. Crystal structure determinations of eight complexes revealed, as expected, extensive systems of N−H···O hydrogen bonds. Amines with NH functions tend to form hydrogen-bonded chain motifs, those with NH2 as donor group form layers of linked ring patterns. It thus seems that the packing can more easily be classified in terms of influence of the cation than of the anion. Some C−H···O hydrogen bonds were also observed, but play a less important role. Aurophilic contacts were not observed, although one mixed gold/silver complex displayed short Au···Ag contacts. Of the two compounds containing iodine, only one showed short I···I contacts.