Replacement of the chloride ligand in [Au(C,N,N)Cl][PF6] cyclometallated complexes by C, N, O and S donor anionic ligands

Replacement of the chloride ligand in the cyclometallated complexes [Au(C,N,N)Cl][PF6] (C,N,N = N2C10H7(CH2C6H4)-6 1, N2C10H7(CHMeC6H4)-6 2, or N2C10H7(CMe2C6H4)-6 3, where N2C10H8 = 2,2'-bipy) by C, N, O and S donor anionic ligands Y was accomplished through different routes depending both on the nature of HY or the C,N,N ligand. Stable alkoxo [Au(C,N,N)(OR)][PF6] (R = Me or Et) and amido [Au(C,N,N)(NHAr)][PF6] (Ar = C6H4NO2-4) complexes were obtained in fairly good yields. The molecular structure of the thiolato complex [Au{N2C10H7(CMe2C6H4)-6}(SPh)][PF6] has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The diorganogold(III) complex [Au(C,N,N)(C2Ph)][PF6] on addition of PPh3 (1:2) undergoes reductive elimination to give [Au(PPh3)(2)][PF6] and an unsymmetric diarylacetylene.