Synthesis of Luminescent Gold(I) and Gold(III) Complexes with a Triphosphine Ligand

A Versatile Approach to Access Trimetallic Complexes Based on Trisphosphinite Ligands

A straightforward method for the preparation of trisphosphinite ligands in one step, using only commercially available reagents (1,1,1-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and chlorophosphines) is described. We have made use of this approach to prepare a small family of four trisphosphinite ligands of formula [CH₃C{(C₆H₄OR₂)₃], where R stands for Ph (1a), Xyl (1b, Xyl = 2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃), ⁱPr (1c), and Cy (1d). These polyfunctional phosphinites allowed us to investigate their coordination chemistry towards a range of late transition metal precursors. As such, we report here the isolation and full characterization of a number of Au(I), Ag(I), Cu(I), Ir(III), Rh(III) and Ru(II) homotrimetallic complexes, including the structural characterization by X-ray diffraction studies of six of these compounds. We have observed that the flexibility of these trisphosphinites enables a variety of conformations for the different trimetallic species.

Near-unity thermally activated delayed fluorescence efficiency in three- and four-coordinate Au(i) complexes with diphosphine ligands

The synthesis and photoluminescence properties of three-coordinate Au(i) complexes with rigid diphosphine ligands LMe {1,2-bis[bis(2-methylphenyl)phosphino]benzene}, LEt {1,2-bis[bis(2-ethylphenyl)phosphino]benzene}, and LiPr {1,2-bis[bis(2-isopropylphenyl)phosphino]benzene} are investigated. The LMe and LEt ligands afford two types of complexes: dinuclear complexes [μ-LMe(AuCl)2] (1d) and [μ-LEt(AuCl)2] (2d) with an Au(i)-Au(i) bond and mononuclear three-coordinate Au(i) complexes LMeAuCl (1) and LEtAuCl (2). On the other hand, the bulkiest ligand, LiPr, affords three-coordinate Au(i) complexes, LiPrAuCl (3) and LiPrAuI (4), but no dinuclear complexes. X-ray analysis suggests that both 3 and 4 possess a highly distorted trigonal planar geometry. Moreover, luminescence data reveal that at room temperature, 3 and 4 exhibit yellow-green thermally activated delayed fluorescence in the crystalline state with maximum emission wavelengths at 558 and 549 nm, respectively. The emission yields are close to unity. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that the emission of 4 originates from the (σ + X) → π* excited state that possesses strong intraligand charge-transfer character. The luminescent properties of four-coordinate Au(i) complex (5) possessing a tetrahedral geometry are discussed on the basis of the emission spectra and decay times measured in a temperature range of 309-77 K.

Luminescent aryl–group eleven metal complexes

This perspective highlights the recent developments in the study of the photoluminescent properties of aryl–group eleven complexes. Related properties and applications such as electroluminescence, triboluminescence, mechanochromism, luminescent liquid crystals, low molecular weight gelators and photocatalysts are also discussed.

Structures and luminescence properties of diethyldithiocarbamate-bridged polynuclear gold(i) cluster complexes with diphosphine/triphosphine

Et₂dtc-linked polynuclear gold(i) complexes modulated structurally through alternation of phosphine ligands exhibit intense solid-state photoluminescence and intriguing thermochromism.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Theoretical Studies of Gold(I) and Gold(I)−Gold(III) Thiolate Complexes: Quenching of Gold(I) Thiolate Luminescence

The gold(I) thiolate complexes [Au(2-SC6H4NH2)(PPh3)] (1), [PPN][Au(2-SC6H4NH2)2] (2) (PPN = PPh3=N=PPh3), and [{Au(2-SC6H4NH2)}2(mu-dppm)] (3) (dppm = PPh2CH2PPh2) have been prepared by reaction of acetylacetonato gold(I) precursors with 2-aminobenzenethiol in the appropriate molar ratio. All products are intensely photoluminescent at 77 K. The molecular structure of the dinuclear derivative 3 displays a gold-gold intramolecular contact of 3.1346(4) A. Further reaction with the organometallic gold(III) complex [Au(C6F5)3(tht)] affords dinuclear or tetranuclear mixed gold(I)-gold(III) derivatives with a thiolate bridge, namely, [(AuPPh3){Au(C6F5)3}(mu2-2-SC6H4NH2)] (4) and [(C6F5)3Au(mu2-2-SC6H4NH2)(AudppmAu)(mu2-2-SC(6)H4NH2)Au(C6F5)3] (5). X-ray diffraction studies of the latter show a shortening of the intramolecular gold(I)-gold(I) contact [2.9353(7) or 2.9332(7) A for a second independent molecule], and short gold(I)-gold(III) distances of 3.2812(7) and 3.3822(7) A [or 3.2923(7) and 3.4052(7) A] are also displayed. Despite the gold-gold interactions, the mixed derivatives are nonemissive compounds. Therefore, the complexes were studied by DFT methods. The HOMOs and LUMOs for gold(I) derivatives 1 and 3 are mainly centered on the thiolate and phosphine (or the second thiolate for complex 2), respectively, with some gold contributions, whereas the LUMO for derivative 4 is more centered on the gold(III) fragment. TD-DFT results show a good agreement with the experimental UV-vis absorption and excitation spectra. The excitations can be assigned as a S --> Au-P charge transfer with some mixture of LLCT for derivative 1, an LLCT mixed with ILCT for derivative 2, and a S --> Au...Au-P charge transfer with LLCT and MC for derivative 3. An LMCT (thiolate --> Au(III) mixed with thiolate --> Au-P) excitation was found for derivative 4. The differing nature of the excited states [participation of the gold(III) fragment and the small contribution of sulfur] is proposed to be responsible for quenching the luminescence.

Gold Liquid Crystals Displaying Luminescence in the Mesophase and Short F⋅⋅⋅F Interactions in the Solid State

Rodlike gold(I) complexes, [Au(C6F4OCmH2m+1)(C(triple bond)NC6H4C6H4OCnH2n+1)] (m=2, n=4, 10; m=6, n=10; m=10, n=6, 10), display interesting features. They are liquid crystals and show photoluminescence in the mesophase, as well as in the solid state and in solution. The single-crystal, X-ray diffraction structure of [Au(C6F4OC2H5)(C(triple bond)NC6H4C6H4OC4H9)] confirms its rodlike structure, with a linear coordination around the gold atom, and reveals the absence of any Au...Au interactions (such interactions are often present in luminescent gold complexes). Well-defined, intermolecular Fortho...Fmeta interactions, with remarkably short intermolecular FF distances (2.66 A), are observed; these interactions seem to be responsible for the crystal packing, which consists of an antiparallel arrangement of molecules. Experiments under different conditions support the explanation that the photoluminescence has an intramolecular origin.

(Fluoren-9-ylidene)methanedithiolato Complexes of Gold: Synthesis, Luminescence, and Charge-Transfer Adducts1

Piperidinium 9H-fluorene-9-carbodithioate and its 2,7-di-tert-butyl-substituted analogue [(pipH)(S(2)CCH(C(12)H(6)R(2)-2,7)), R = H (1a), t-Bu (1b)] and 2,7-bis(octyloxy)-9H-fluorene-9-carbodithioic acid [HS(2)CCH(C(12)H(6)(OC(8)H(17))(2)-2,7), 2] and its tautomer [2,7-bis(octyloxy)fluoren-9-ylidene]methanedithiol [(HS)(2)C=C(C(12)H(6)(OC(8)H(17))(2)-2,7), 3] were employed for the preparation of gold complexes with the (fluoren-9-ylidene)methanedithiolato ligand and its substituted analogues. The gold(I) compounds Q(2)[Au(2)(mu-kappa(2)-S,S-S(2)C=C(C(12)H(6)R(2)-2,7))(2)], where Q(+) = PPN(+) or Pr(4)N(+) for R = H (Q(2)4a) or Q(+) = Pr(4)N(+) for R = OC(8)H(17) [(Pr(4)N)(2)4c], were synthesized by reacting Q[AuCl(2)] with 1a or 2 (1:1) and excess piperidine or diethylamine. Complexes of the type [(Au(PR'3))(2)(mu-kappa(2)-S,S-S(2)C=C(C(12)H(6)R(2)-2,7))(2)] with R = H and R' = Me (5a), Et (5b), Ph (5c), and Cy (5d) or R = t-Bu and R' = Me (5e), Et (5f), Ph (5g), and Cy (5h) were obtained by reacting [AuCl(PR'(3))] with 1a,b (1:2) and piperidine. The reactions of 1a,b or 2 with Q[AuCl(4)] (2:1) and piperidine or diethylamine gave Q[Au(kappa(2)-S,S-S(2)C=C(C(12)H(6)R(2)-2,7))(2)] with Q(+) = PPN(+) for R = H [(PPN)6a], Q(+) = PPN(+) or Bu(4)N(+) for R = t-Bu (Q6b), and Q(+) = Bu(4)N(+) for R = OC(8)H(17) [(Bu(4)N)6c]. Complexes Q6a-c reacted with excess triflic acid to give [Au(kappa(2)-S,S-S(2)C=C(C(12)H(6)R(2)-2,7))(kappa(2)-S,S-S(2)CCH(C(12)H(6)R(2)-2,7))] [R = H (7a), t-Bu (7b), OC(8)H(17) (7c)]. By reaction of (Bu(4)N)6b with PhICl(2) (1:1) the complex Bu(4)N[AuCl(2)(kappa(2)-S,S-S(2)C=C(C(12)H(6)(t-Bu)(2)-2,7))] [(Bu(4)N)8b] was obtained. The dithioato complexes [Au(SC(S)CH(C(12)H(8)))(PCy(3))] (9) and [Au(n)(S(2)CCH(C(12)H(8)))(n)] (10) were obtained from the reactions of 1a with [AuCl(PCy(3))] or [AuCl(SMe(2))], respectively (1:1), in the absence of a base. Charge-transfer adducts of general composition Q[Au(kappa(2)-S,S-S(2)C=C(C(12)H(6)R(2)-2,7))(2)].1.5TCNQ.xCH(2)Cl(2) [Q(+) = PPN(+), R = H, x = 0 (11a); Q(+) = PPN(+), R = t-Bu, x = 2 (11b); Q(+) = Bu(4)N(+), R = OC(8)H(17), x = 0 (11c)] were obtained from Q6a-c and TCNQ (1:2). The crystal structures of 5c.THF, 5e.(2)/(3)CH(2)Cl(2), 5g.CH(2)Cl(2), (PPN)6a.2Me(2)CO, and 11b were solved by X-ray diffraction studies. All the gold(I) complexes here described are photoluminescent at 77 K, and their emissions can be generally ascribed to LMMCT (Q(2)4a,c, 5a-h, 10) or LMCT (9) excited states.

An ab Initio Study on Luminescent Properties and Aurophilic Attraction of Binuclear Gold(I) Complexes with Phosphinothioether Ligands

Electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of the binuclear head-to-tail [Au(2)(PH(2)CH(2)SH)(2)](2+) (1) complex were investigated by ab initio calculations. The solvent effect of the complex in the acetonitrile solution was taken into account by the weakly solvated [Au(2)(PH(2)CH(2)SH)(2)](2+).(MeCN)(2) (2) moiety in the calculations. The ground-state geometries of 1 and 2 were fully optimized by the MP2 method, while their excited-state structures were optimized by the CIS method. Aurophilic attraction apparently exists between the two Au(I) atoms in the ground state and is strongly enhanced in the excited state. A high-energy phosphorescent emission was calculated at 337 nm for 1 in the absence of the interactions with solvent molecules and/or counteranion in solid state; however the lowest-energy emission of 2 was obtained at 614 nm with the nature of (3)A(u)(s(sigma)) --> (1)A(g)(d(sigma)) (metal-centered, MC) transition. The coordination of acetonitrile to the gold atom in solution results in a dramatic red shift of emission wavelength. The investigations on the head-to-tail [Au(2)(PH(2)CH(2)SCH(3))(2)](2+) (5) and [Au(2)(PH(2)CH(2)SCH(3))(2)](2+).(MeCN)(2) (6) moieties indicate that the CH(3) substituent on the S atom causes blue shifts of emission wavelength for 5 and 6 with respect to 1 and 2. By comparison between Au(I) thioether 1 and head-to-tail Au(I) thiolate [Au(2)(PH(2)CH(2)S)(2)] (7), it is concluded that the S-->Au dative bonding results in evidently different transition characteristics from the S-Au covalent bonding in the Au(I) thioether/thiolate complexes.

Antitumor activity of the mixed phosphine gold species chlorotriphenylphosphine-1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propanegold(I)

The title compound has been designed for antitumor activity based on structural features of related known antitumor gold agents, that is, gold-monophosphine and gold-diphosphine derivatives. It is a gold complex that contains both types of phosphine ligands, thus suggesting a possible synergistic action. The results of a single crystal X-ray structure determination of this molecule show the metal surrounded by 3 P atoms and one Cl anion in a distorted tetrahedral arrangement. The chloro anion, however, is weakly bound to the metal and so the species shows ionic character. The P NMR study, performed in solution, confirms the structural features observed in the solid and, in addition, indicates partial formation of other known gold(I)-diphosphine antitumor agents. The ionic character and strong Au-P bonds of this novel gold(I) species are similar to those of the most active antitumor gold compounds so far studied. The former feature contributes to solubility in biological fluids, and the latter prevents fast biomolecular attack. In addition, the title compound is less lipophilic, a feature recently correlated to lower liver toxicity. The title compound shows in vitro antitumor activity in the two initial National Cancer Institute protocols against human tumors. In the first screening, a unique dose (0.10 mM) of the title compound reduced cell growth of MCF7 (breast cancer), NCI-H460 (lung cancer), and SF-268 (Central Nervous System cancer-CNS) to 5, 8, and 11%, respectively. In the second protocol a 60-cell line panel was analyzed with the title compound concentration in the 0.1 mM-0.01 microM range. The highest activity was for the breast tumor cell line MCF7 with a LC(50) less than 0.01 microM. LC(50) values in the micromolar range were obtained for 29 cell lines. With the exception of leukemia, these micromolar activities were observed in at least one cell line for each subgroup tumor (non small lung, colon, CNS, melanoma, renal, prostate, breast, and ovarian). The leukemia inactivity was unexpected, as all antitumor gold(I) phosphine compounds in the literature described thus far are active. Melanoma was the most sensitive subgroup screened (five out of seven cell lines).