NBu4[{Au(C6F5)3}2(μ-PPh2)]:: a gold(III) phosphide with a single atom bridging the metallic centers

Reaction of [Au(C6F5)(3)(PPh2H)] with [Au(C6F5)(3)(tht)] and NBu4(acac) (acac = acetylacetonate) leads to the synthesis of NBu4 [{Au(C6F5)(3)}(2)(mu-PPh2)] (1), an unprecedented complex with two gold(III) centers bonded to a unique bridging atom without any other stabilizing effect. The novel di-bridged gold(III) phosphide [Au-2(C6F5)(4)(mu-PPh2)(2)] (2) is obtained by treatment of diphenylphosphine with [Au-2(C6F5)(4)(mu-Cl)(2)]. The crystal structures of both derivatives have been determined by X-ray diffraction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.