Quantitative Selection of the Axially Chiral Conformation in a Flexible Dinuclear Gold(I) di(N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complex via Chlorine Oxidative Addition

Abstract: A novel dinuclear gold(II) complex with two-fold rotational symmetry 2 of general formula [Au2Cl2(diNHC)2](PF6)2 (diNHC=di(N-heterocyclic carbene)) has been obtained in quantitative yield via chlorine (in the form of PhICl2) oxidative addition to the parent gold(I) complex 1 [Au2(diNHC)2](PF6)2. The novel compound has been characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and single crystal x-ray structure analysis. The oxidation of the two gold(I) centres to gold(II), with the formation of a covalent bond between them, imposes to the complex an axis of chirality, along the Au–Au bond, leading to a chiral propeller arrangement. Graphical Abstract: Structural characterization of a novel dinuclear gold(II) complex with di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands, the formation of the gold(II)-gold(II) bond imposes to the complex coordination chirality.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].