Tunable self-assembly properties of amphiphilic phosphole alkynylgold(i) complexes through variation of the extent of the aromatic π-surface at the alkynyl moieties

Abstract

A new class of amphiphilic phosphole alkynylgold(I) complexes was synthesized and was demonstrated to display sheet-like nanostructures in aqueous DMSO solution. Modulation of the extent of the aromatic π-surface at the alkynyl ligands was found to affect the self-assembly properties as well as the stability of the aggregates as revealed by the nucleation–elongation model.