Neutral dinuclear gold(I) complexes with N-phosphanyl, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCPs)

Neutral dinuclear gold(I) complexes having general formula [Au2Cl2(NHCP)] (NHCP = N-phosphanyl N-heterocyclic carbene) have been synthesized by two different synthetic procedures: i) transmetalation of the NHCP ligand from the corresponding dinuclear silver(I) complex; ii) deprotonation of the corresponding N-phosphanyl azolium/tetrahydropyrimidinium salt in the presence of the gold(I) precursor. Interestingly, although the silver complexes are invariably dinuclear dicationic species of formula [Ag2(NHCP)2](OTf)2, both stoichiometries [Au2(NHCP)2](OTf)2 and [Au2Cl2(NHCP)] are potentially accessible with gold. Preference for either stoichiometry is dictated by the steric properties of the NHCP ligand as well as by a proper choice of the experimental conditions. On the other hand, preparation of copper(I) compounds with [Cu2Cl2(NHCP)] stoichiometry leads to product mixtures and has not led up to now to pure neutral compounds. Both the silver(I) and gold(I) complexes have been structurally characterized.