A LUMINESCENT GOLD COMPLEX - BIS-MU-[BIS(DICYCLOHEXYLPHOSPHINO)ETHANE-P,P']-DIGOLD BIS(HEXAFLUOROPHOSPHATE)

[Au2(C26H48P2)2](PF6)2, M(r) = 1529.1, tetragonal, P4n2BAR, a = 15.917 (5), c = 12.448 (1) angstrom, V = 3154 (1) angstrom 3, Z = 2, D(x) = 1.61 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.71073 angstrom, mu = 50.1 cm-1, F(000) = 1528, room temperature (297 K), R = 0.064 for 3525 reflections with F(o)2 > 0, 0.038 for 2440 with F(o)2 > 3-sigma(F(o)2). This compound shows a strong luminescence in the solid state at 77 K. The cation consists of two Au atoms joined by two bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane links, with one Au atom and one half of a link being the asymmetric unit. The Au-Au distance [2.936 (1) angstrom] is only slightly longer than the 2.884 angstrom found in gold metal, indicative of substantial metal-metal bonding.