Synthesis and structure of gold and copper complexes: [Ph3PhCH2P]+[AuCl4]−, [NH(C2H4OH)3]+[AuCl4]− · H2O, and [Ph3EtP] 2 + [Cu2Cl6]2−

Abstract

Triphenylbenzylphosphonium tetrachloroaurate (I) and triethanolammonium tetrachloroaurate hydrate (II) were prepared by reacting tetrachloroauric acid in acetone with triphenylbenzylphosphonium and triethanolammonium, respectively. Triphenylethylphosphonium hexachlorodicuprate (III) was synthesized from triphenylethylphosphonium chloride and copper chloride in acetone. The crystal structures of complexes I to III were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The phosphorus atoms in complex I have a nearly undistorted tetrahedral coordination (CPC, 108.3°–110.6°; P-C, 1.788–1.793 A). The coordination of nitrogen atoms in the cations of complex II is a distorted tetrahedron (CNC, 111.7°–112.4°). The square coordination of aurum in I and II is only slightly distorted: the ClAuCl angles are 89.6°–90.3° (I) and 89.5°–90.6° (II) and the Au-Cl distances are 2.256–2.278 A I) and 2.280–2.285 A (II). The phosphorus atoms in complex III are tetracoordinated (CPC, 106.34°–111.73°; P-C, 1.790–1.795 A). The copper atoms in III have a distorted tetrahedral coordination (ClCuCl, 98.48°–144.85°; Cu-Cl, 2.1999–2.3263 A). The central fragment Cu2Cl2 in the anion of complex III is bent relative to the Cu2 axis (the chlorine atom deviates from the Cu2Cl plane by 0.27 A).