Synthesis and Characterization of Gold(I) and Gold(III) Complexes Derived from Benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene Ligands

Abstract

AbstractSubstitution of the chlorido ligand in (N,N′‐dialkylbenzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene)gold(I) chlorides (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl) succeeded by treatment of the gold chlorido complexes with lithium bromide in acetone, which leads to the gold complexes of the type [AuBr(NHC)] (1–4). Furthermore, the Au–Ccarbene bond in complexes 1–4 is inert towards a change of the oxidation state of the metal atom. Complexes 1–4 were oxidized chemically with elemental bromine leading to the gold(III) carbene complexes of the type [AuBr3(NHC)] (5–8). The molecular structures of the gold(I) complexes 1, 2, and 4, which exhibit a linear topology, are presented together with the two molecular structures of the square‐planar gold(III) complexes 6 and 8.