Gold Complexes with Difunctional Perfluoroalkyl Chains: Quantifying the Energy of Aurophilic Interactions in Flexible Open‐Chain Complexes

Abstract

The first binuclear Au^I compounds containing bridging (CF₂ )_n chains (n=4, 6, 8) and Au^III metallaperfluorocyclopentanes have been obtained by photoinitiated reactions of LAuMe (L=PPh₃ , PMe₃ , PCy₃ , or IPr) with α,ω-diiodoperfluorocarbons. Complexes LAu(CF₂ )₄ AuL present an unusual looped structure stabilized by an aurophilic interaction for L=PMe₃ , PPh₃ , and PCy₃ . The study of their dynamic behaviour has provided new insights about the strength of aurophilic interactions in solution, allowing quantification of the energy of a single Au⋅⋅⋅Au interaction.