Digold(I) complexes derived from 5,5'-bibenzimidazolin-2-ylidene ligands

Jahnke M. C., To Brinke C., Ekkehardt Hahn F. E.

Abstract

The 5,5'-bibenzimidazolium dibromide salts 2 and 3 have been prepared by fourfold N-alkylation of 5,5'-bibenzimidazole (2: R = Pr; 3: R = Bu). The diazolium salts were treated with silver oxide, and the in situ-formed silver complexes were subsequently reacted with [AuCl(SMe2)] to give the dinuclear gold complexes 4 and 5. The molecular structure of complex 5 has been determined by X-ray diffraction showing linearly coordinated gold(I) centers and, most likely due to steric crowding around the metal centers, no aurophilic interactions.