Study of the Effect of the Phosphane Bridging Chain Nature on the Structural and Photophysical Properties of a Series of Gold(I) Ethynylpyridine Complexes

Abstract

AbstractAlkynyl AuI complexes of the type [Au(C≡CC5H4N)(PPh3)] (1) [Au2(C≡CC5H4N)2 (diphosphane)] [diphosphane = bis(diphenylphosphanyl)methane (2), bis(diphenylphosphanyl)isopropane] (3), bis(diphenylphosphanyl)acetylene (4), 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane (5), 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (6), 1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)butane (7), 1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene (8) and [Au3(C≡CC5H4N)3(triphos)] [triphos = 1,1,1‐tris(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)ethane] (9) were prepared by reaction of [Au(C≡CC5H4N)]n with the suitable phosphane. Determination of the X‐ray crystal structures of several compounds bearing different carbon backbones between the phosphorus atoms reveals the influence of the nature of the phosphane spacer on the establishment of intra and/or intermolecular gold–gold interactions. The absorption and emission properties of the complexes were analysed by taking into account the presence or absence of intermetallic interactions. Although UV/Vis spectra show differences for compounds with intramolecular Au–Au contacts, a conclusive trend was not observed in the emission behaviour. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)