Homoleptic gold(I) N-heterocyclic allenylidene complexes: excited-state properties and lyotropic chromonics

A series of phosphorescent Au(I) bis(N-heterocyclic allenylidene) complexes, namely [Au(=C=C=(CRR2)-R-1)(2)]X-+(-), were synthesized and structurally characterized. These organometallic complexes exhibit panchromatic transient absorption upon electronic photo-excitation and can self-organize into lyotropic chromonic mesophases in aqueous solutions.