Gold(I) compounds without significant aurophilic intermolecular interactions:: Synthesis, structure, and electronic properties of Ph3PAuC(O)NHMe and Au3(PhCH2N=COMe)3:: Comparative monomeric and trimeric analogues of the solvoluminescent trimer, Au3(MeN=COMe)3

The preparations of Ph3PAuC(O)NHMe and Au-3(PhCH2N=COMe)(3) are reported. In solution Ph3PAuC(O)NHMe is unstable and readily deposits metallic gold. Colorless needles of the monomeric complex, Ph3PAuC(O)NHMe, crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a = 8.993(2) Angstrom, b = 22.583(5) Angstrom, c = 8.932(2) Angstrom, beta = 98.22(2)degrees, at 123 K with Z = 4. Refinement of 2609 reflections and 114 parameters yielded R = 0.0455. A hydrogen-bonded intermolecular network links molecular units through N-H ... O hydrogen bonds. No aurophilic interactions are present in this solid. The crystal structure of the cyclic trinuclear organogold compound, Au-3(PhCH2N=COMe)(3), reveals that the complex does not associate into a trigonal prismatic array via intermolecular interactions of gold(I) centers as is seen in the triangular complex, Au-3(MeN=COMe)(3). Rather, the complex packs in a stair-step fashion with eight discrete molecules in the asymmetric unit. Additionally, the solvent-stimulated emission (solvoluminescence) associated with Au-3(MeN=COMe)(3) is not observed fur this complex. Colorless needles of Au-3(PhCH2N=COMe)(3) crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1), with a = 17.311(6) Angstrom, b = 34.761(10) Angstrom, c = 18.052(6) Angstrom, beta = 94.73(2)degrees, at 133 g with Z = 16. Refinement of 16 250 reflections and 985 parameters yielded R = 0.0735.