Reaction of carbon monoxide in the super acid HSO3F-Au(SO3F)3, and the gold(I)bis(carbonyl)cation [Au(CO)2]+. Isolation and characterization of gold(I) carbonyl fluorosulfate, Au(CO)SO3F

Abstract

Solutions of gold tris(fluorosulfate), Au(SO 3 F) 3 , in fluorosulfuric acid, HSO 3 F, behave as superacids and will dissolve up to ∼3.5 mol of CO/mol of Au(SO 3 F) 3 . During the CO uptake, Au(III) is reduced to Au(I), with Au + (solv) stabilized by CO to give the cation [(OC)Au(CO)] + (solv). The linear five-atom cation is characterized by its vibrational spectrum. The cation is stable in solution, but solvent removal in vacuo leads to the formation of a new gold(I) monocarbonyl derivative, Au(CO)SO 3 F, in quantitative yield as a white solid. Au(CO)SO 3 F is thermally stable up to 190°C