Structural motifs of Au(I)-Cu(I) N-heterocyclic carbene halide complexes. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016) - Nenzel, Michelle M.
Abstract: A series of Au(I)–Cu(I) N -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) halide complexes [AuCu2 (im(CH2 py)2 )2 X] 2+ where X = Cl (1 ), Br (2 ), I(3) was prepared by refluxing [AuCu2 (im(CH2 py)2 )2 (NCCH3 )4 ] 3+ with the appropriate halide in acetonitrile. The compounds were characterized by NMR, absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy. They feature similar solution behavior and solid-state photoemissions. The solid-state structures feature a rhomboidal [AuCu2 X] 2+ core which is influenced by the type of halide. Compared to other Au(I)–Cu(I) NHC complexes, 1–3 comprise a new structural motif containing a bridging halide. The benzimidazolium analog of1 was also characterized crystallographically. The structure of [AuCu2 (benzim(CH2 py)2 )2 Cl] 2+ (4) features different coordination modes of the NHC ligands with the carbenic carbon bonded to both gold and copper and the pyridyl groups bonded to the same copper(I) ion. Abstract :