Characterization of the luminescent, homoleptic, three-coordinate, water soluble Au(I) complex of trisulfonated triphenylphosphine (TPPTS) as the cesium salt, Cs8[Au(TPPTS)3]•5.25 H2O

The homoleptic metal-TPPTS complex Cs-8[Au(TPPTS)(3)].5.25 H2O has been characterized structurally. The x-ray data for the triclinic crystal, P-1, with cell constants a = 13.7003(4), b = 18,0001(6), c = 18,2817(2), alpha = 100.249(2), beta = 99.593(2), gamma = 109.818(2) shows trigona planar Au(I) centers coordinated by three TPPTS ligands having Au-P distances equal to 2.374(6), 2.394(5), and 2.417(5)A. The structure shows a complex network of bonding involving the Cs+ ions, the sulfate groups of the ligand, and H2O solvent molecules. The [Au(TPPTS)(3)]8(-) luminesces in the solid state and in aqueous solution with a broad emission at ca 520 nm which is quenched by O-2, and other small molecules, The forbidden singlet to triplet absorption at ca 552 nm with epsilon similar to 0.8Lmol(-1)cm(-1) is also observed.