LUMINESCENT GOLD(I) ACETYLIDE COMPLEXES - PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOREDOX PROPERTIES AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF [(AU(C-EQUIVALENT-TO-CPH))2(MU-PH2PCH2CH2PPH2)]

The spectroscopic and photophysical properties of three gold(I)-acetylide complexes [N(PPh3)2][Au(C=CPh)2], [Au(PPh3)(C=CPh)] and [{Au(C=CPh)}2(mu-dppe)] [dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] are described. X-Ray crystal analysis of the latter showed a weak metal-metal interaction in the solid state with the shortest Au...Au separation being 3.153(2) angstrom. The gold(I)-acetylide complexes have long-lived and emissive 3(pi,pi*) excited states in solutions at room temperature. The photoreaction of [Au(PPh3)(C=CPh)] with methyl viologen has been investigated by Stern-Volmer quenching and flash-photolysis experiments.