Gold(III) Complexation in the Presence of the Macropolyhedral Hydridoborate Cluster [B20H18]2-

Gold(III) complexation with the octadecahydrido-eicosaborate anion [B20H18](2-) was studied for the first time. It was found that when gold(III) complexes [Au(L)Cl-2]BF4 (L = bipy, phen) reacted with [B20H18](2-), complexes [Au(L)Cl-2](2)[B20H18] were isolated. The compounds consisted of a cationic gold(III) complex [Au(L)Cl-2](+) and the hydridoborate cluster as a counterion. X-ray diffraction studies revealed weak B-H...Au interactions for both compounds. Note that more reactive anions [BnHn](2-) (n = 10, 12) in similar reactions with gold(III) complexes resulted in gold mirror reactions.

Automated summary

Gold(III) complexation with the octadecahydrido-eicosaborate anion [B20H18](2-) was investigated for the first time. The reaction of gold(III) complexes [Au(L)Cl-2]BF4 (L = bipy, phen) with [B20H18](2-) resulted in the formation of complexes [Au(L)Cl-2](2)[B20H18]. X-ray diffraction studies revealed weak B-H...Au interactions between the compounds. It is worth noting that more reactive anions [BnHn](2-) (n = 10, 12) in similar reactions with gold(III) complexes led to gold mirror reactions.