Stimuli-Induced Reversible Transformation between Decanuclear and Pentanuclear Gold(I) Sulfido Complexes

Decanuclear and pentanuclear gold(I) sulfido complexes of phenanthrene- and dibenzothiophene-based diphosphine ligands were synthesized and characterized. Unprecedented stimuli-induced reversible transformation between decanuclear and pentanuclear gold(I) sulfido complexes was observed, which could be readily monitored by NMR and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy in solution. Remarkably, the decanuclear gold(I) sulfido complex (Au₁₀-L^Ph) was found to show a highly reversible transformation process, which is stable for over 10 successive cycles in solution. The stimuli-induced reversible transformation behavior of the gold(I) sulfido complexes was found to depend on the P-P bite distance of the bidentate phosphine ligands.