A pentanuclear mixed gold(III)-silver(I) phosphide with an unusual T-frame μ3-Cl bridge

The reaction of the mixed gold(III)-silver(I) diphenylphosphide complex [Au(C6F5)(2)(mu-PPh2)(2)Ag](2) (1) with an equimolecular amount of [AgCl(PPh3)(2)] leads to the formal insertion of the latter into 1, affording the pentanuclear derivative [{Au(C6F5)(2){(mu-PPh2)AgPPh3}(mu-PPh2)}(2)(mu-Ag)(mu(3)-Cl)] (2). Surprisingly, complex 2 is also obtained by treatment of [Au(C6F5)(2)(PPh2H)(2)]ClO4 with [Ag(TfO)(PPh3)] (TfO = trifluoromethanesulfonate) and AgTfO (2:2:1) in the presence of PPN(acac) (PPN = [N(PPh3)(2)](+), acac = acetylacetonate) and PPNCl. The crystal structure of 2 has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies, and it displays an unusual, perfectly planar T-frame mu(3)-Cl atom acting as a bridge between the three silver atoms.