Photoelectron spectroscopy study of the X-ray-induced decomposition of some gold(III) dithiocarbamates

Abstract

The factors influencing the decomposition rate of two gold(III) complexes, [AuMe₂(S₂CNMe₂)] and [AuBr₂(S₂CNPrⁿ₂)], in an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiment have been studied. It is shown that the decomposition rate can be slowed down by using graphite as substrate and by lowering the sample temperature. From the Au(4f) spectrum a direct measure has been made of the shift in the binding energy between Au^III and Au^I and this shift is shown to be dependent on the electronegativity of the ligands. The valence bands of the complexes show a narrow Au(5d) band with a spin–orbit splitting of ca. 1.6 eV.