Two new mononuclear gold(I)–nitrogen [N,N′-di(2,6-methyl)phenylformamidine] complexes: Syntheses and crystal structures

Two gold(I) mononuclear complexes have been prepared by reacting gold(I) tetrahydrothiophene with N,N′-di(2,6-methyl)phenylformamidine. The neutral complex [N,N′-di(2,6-methyl)phenylformamidine)–gold(I) chloride (C17H20AuClN2) (1), crystallizes in the triclinic group P1¯ while the cationic [N,N′-di(2,6-methyl)phenylformamidine](tetrahydrothiophene)–gold(I) (C21H28AuN2S) (2) crystallizes with a nitrate anion in the monoclinic group P2(1)/n. Both compounds are good starting materials for synthetic gold chemistry.

Graphical abstractTwo different mononuclear gold(I) formamidine compounds are prepared from the reaction of Au(THT)X with N,N′-di(2,6-methyl)phenylformamidine, by changing the anion X from Cl− to NO3−.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Two new mononuclear gold(I) formamidine compounds. ► Anion dependence in the synthesis of mononuclear gold(I) complexes. ► Sulfur–gold–nitrogen linkage. ► Stacking interactions mediate a chain of molecules.