Stimuli-Induced Reversible Transformation between Decanuclear and Pentanuclear Gold(I) Sulfido Complexes
Liang‐Liang Yan, Liao‐Yuan Yao, Maggie Ng, Wai Kit Tang, Ming‐Yi Leung, Vivian Wing‐Wah Yam
Abstract
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-LPh) 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.