Luminescent gold(I) acetylide complexes. Photophysical and photoredox properties and crystal structure of [{Au(CCPh)}2(µ-Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)]

Abstract

The spectroscopic and photophysical properties of three gold(I)-acetylide complexes [N(PPh₃)₂]-[Au(CCPh)₂], [Au(PPh₃)(CCPh)] and [{Au(CCPh)}₂(µ-dppe)][dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenyl-phosphino)ethane] are described. X-Ray crystal analysis of the latter showed a weak metal–metal interaction in the solid state with the shortest Au ⋯ Au separation being 3.153(2)Å. The gold(I)–acetylide complexes have long-lived and emissive ³(π,π*) excited states in solutions at room temperature. The photoreaction of [Au(PPh₃)(CCPh)] with methyl viologen has been investigated by Stern–Volmer quenching and flash-photolysis experiments.