STUDIES ON GOLD(I) COMPLEXES OF 1,1'-BIS(DIPHENYLPHOSPHINO)FERROCENE

The synthesis and Au-197, Fe-57 Mossbauer and P-31 NMR spectroscopic data for a series of Au1 complexes of 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (fdpp) are reported. Two different Au1 coordination geometries are apparent in the solid state, linear and trigonal. There is no evidence in the solid state for a tetrahedral species [fdpp2Au]+, but P-31 NMR spectroscopy indicates its existence in solution. Chemical oxidation of the complexes does not yield the expected ferrocenium derivatives. In accord with this, cyclic voltammetry reveals there to be no observable electrochemical processes in the timescales investigated (500-20 mV/s).