The first anionic arenediethynylgold(I) complexes

We report synthetic methods for the preparation of mono-, di-, tri- and polyanionic alkynylgold(l) complexes, derived from diethynylarenes. The reaction between PPN[Au(acac)(2)] and 1,3-diethynylbenzene [HC drop C(mphen)C drop CH] (1:1 M ratio) afforded the polymeric complex (PPN)(n)[Au{C drop C(mphen)C drop C}](n), (1) while the monomeric complexes (PPN)[Au{C-C(Ar)C-CH}(2)] [Ar = mphen (2), mes (3)] resulted when the same dialkyne or 1,3-diethynylmesitylene [HC drop C(mes)C drop CH] were used in a 1:2 M ratio. Complexes PPN[XAuC drop C(Ar)C drop CH] [Ar = mphen, X = Cl (4), Ar = mes, X = Cl (5), SCN (6)] were obtained from the metathesis reactions between complexes 2 or 3 and the appropriate PPN[AuX2] salts. The C drop CH groups in complexes 2 or 4 are acidic enough as to react with [Au(acac)PPh3] (1:2) or with PPN[Au(acac)(2)] (1:1) to give complexes PPN[AufC drop C(mphen)C drop CAuPPh3)(2)] (7) or (PPN)(3)[Au{C drop C(mphen)C drop CAuCl}(2)] (8), respectively. Complexes (PPN)2[XAuC drop C(Ar)C drop CAuX)] [Ar=mphen, X = Cl (9); Ar = mes, X = Cl (10), SCN (11)] have been prepared by reacting [Ph3PAuC drop C(mphen)C drop CAuPPh3] with PPN[AUCl(2)](1:2) (9) or [AuC drop C(mes)C drop CAu](n) with the appropriate PPNX (1:2) salt (10, 11). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.