Synthesis, crystal and molecular structure of gold(I) thiophenolate with 4′-ferrocenyl[1,1′]biphenylisocyanides

The syntheses of ferrocenylbiphenylisocyanide gold(I) thiophenolato complexes are described. The preparative route starts from ferrocenylphenylbromide and proceeds in six steps to yield the desired gold(I) complexes, (thiophenolato)gold{(4′-ferrocenyl[1,1′]biphenyl-4-yl)isocyanide} (11) and (thiophenolato)gold{(4′-ferrocenyl-3,5-dimethyl[1,1′]biphenyl-4-yl)isocyanide} (12) in good yields. The synthetic pathways were developed as a first step toward realizing the goal of preparing metallomesogens based on ferrocenyl-polyphenylenes coordinated to gold(I) thiophenolates, in which long chain alkoxy groups are substituted para to sulfur on the phenyl ring. The crystal structures of (chloro)gold{(4′-ferrocenyl[1,1′]biphenyl-4-yl)isocyanide} (9) and 12 are reported. Complex 9 crystallizes in the space group P21/c and 12 crystallizes in P21/n. Complexes 9 and 12 show short intermolecular Au–Au contacts of 3.3765(7) Å and 3.3334(3) Å, respectively.

Graphical abstractThe syntheses of ferrocenylbiphenylisocyanide gold(I) thiophenolato complexes are described. The preparative route starts from ferrocenylphenylbromide and proceeds in six steps. The synthetic pathways were developed as a first step toward preparing metallomesogens based on ferrocenyl-polyphenylenes coordinated to gold(I) thiophenolates.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide