Structural and photophysical characterization of gold(I) complexes bearing naphthyl chromophores

•Two complexes of the type L–Au–Cl with L = tris-1-naphthyl-phosphine and 2-naphthyl-isonitrile have been prepared.•Their crystal structures were determined.•In solution at room temperature they show both intraligand fluorescence and phosphorescence.•At 77 K, the emission spectrum is dominated by phosphorescence.

We prepared two chlorido-gold(I) complexes of the type L–Au–Cl bearing a naphthyl moiety: Complex 1 with L = tris-1-naphthyl-phosphine shows standard linear coordination without further aggregation in the solid state. Complex 2 with L = 2-naphthyl-isonitrile is engaged in a complex network of aurophilic and π–π interactions. The two complexes show similar luminescence behaviour in solution at room temperature with both intraligand fluorescence and phosphorescence. At 77 K the emission spectra are dominated by intraligand phosphorescence, which is typical of gold complexes with extended π-chromophores.

Graphical abstractWe prepared two chlorido-gold(I) complexes of the type L–Au–Cl bearing a naphthyl moiety (L = tris-1-naphthyl-phosphine and 2-naphthyl-isonitrile). The crystal structures of both complexes were determined and the luminescence properties were investigated.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide