Organometallic Gold(III) Derivatives with Anionic Oxygen Ligands-mononuclear Hydroxo, Alkoxo, and Acetato Complexes: Synthesis and Spectral Study

A variety of gold(III) adducts having σ-ligated oxygen-donor ligands have been prepared from [Au(ppy)Cl2](ppy·phenylpyridine)(1) either by partial or total replacement of the chloride ions. The new species comprise hydroxo-[Au(ppy)(OH)Cl](2), and [Au(ppy)(OH)2](3), oxo-[Au2(ppy)2(μ-O)2](4), acetate-[Au(ppy(O2CMe2)] (5), and alkoxo complexes-[Au(ppy)(OR)Cl](6, 7) and [Au(ppy)(OR)2](8-10)(R=Me, 6 and 8; Et, 7 and 9; Pri,10). The dihydroxo and the oxo complexes can be interconverted by refluxing the former in anhydrous THF and the latter in water. The hydroxides 2 and 3 and the acetato complex 5 undergo σ-ligand metathesis in ROH solution(R=Me, Et or Pri) to give the corresponding alkoxides.