Polynuclear gold clusters have been synthesized during the last decade and mixed Au/Ag clusters have also been studied. Following a recent report on the synthesis and reactivity of a hexanuclear gold cluster, we have developed an improved modified procedure using gold(I) complexes bearing silylphosphines as ligands. In parallel, a series of [Au4], [Au4M], and [Au8] clusters have also been prepared and examination of their catalytic reactivity showed that [Au4M] (M = Cu, Ag) clusters are active in the carbonylation reaction of amines to form ureas under mild conditions. We have now developed a simple method to synthesize new tetranuclear [Au4] complexes such as 1 and 3 in one step from [(dppn)Au2Cl2]. Interestingly, supramolecular structure 2 containing an infinite 1D chain was obtained when using AgNTf2 as the silver salt (Figure 1). Related gold clusters and their application in homogeneous catalysis will be presented.

Synthesis of gold clusters with PNNP ligands

254th National Meeting (2017)

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