Synthesis of aurocyanide and auricyanide complexes of phosphines, phosphine sulfides and phosphine selenides, and their characterization by IR, far-IR, UV solution, and solid-state NMR spectroscopic methods

A series of aurocyanide and auricyanide complexes of phosphines, phosphine sulfides, and phosphine selenides were synthesized. These new complexes have the general formula [L n Au(CN) m ], where L could be Cy3P, (2-CN-Et)3P, Me3PS, Et3PS, Ph3PS, Me3PSe, or Ph3PSe. Auricyanide was reacted with L at 1 : 2 ratio. Products were characterized using elemental analysis, melting point, UV, IR, far-IR solution, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Phosphine ligands cause gold(III) reduction to gold(I); less redox tendency was found for phosphine sulfides and phosphine selenides. Tri-coordinate complexes [L2AuCN] were produced from phosphine ligands with gold-tetracyanide. IR and UV spectroscopic methods were used to identify gold oxidation state in the synthesized complexes.