Gold(I)-carbenes derived from 4-pyridylisocyanide complexes:: supramolecular macrocycles supported by hydrogen bonds, and luminescent behavior

Monomeric gold(I) carbenes of the type [AuR{C(NR1R2)(NHPy-(4))}] (Py-4 = 4-pyridyl) have been prepared with R = C6F5, Fmes (2,4,6- tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) by reaction of the corresponding isocyanide compounds [AuR(CNPy-4)] with primary or secondary amines. The single crystal X-ray diffraction structures of [Au(C6F5){C(NEt2)(NHPy-4)}]center dot OH2, [Au(Fmes){C(NEt2)(NHPy-4)}], and [Au(Fmes){C(NHMe)(NHPy-4)}] show that the presence of the NHPy-4 moiety formed induces the formation of supramolecular macrocycles only supported by hydrogen bond interactions, either with N-H groups of other molecules ( tetrameric macrocycles), or with water molecules ( dimeric macrocycles). Dimeric gold( I) carbenes were also produced using a diamine to form a bridging carbene, or using octafluorobiphenyl to form a Au-C6F4-C6F4-Au bridge, but the solid state structures of these dimers could not be solved. Most of the complexes herein described display luminescent properties.