Luminescent metal clusters. Spectroscopic properties and X-ray structure of a trinuclear gold(I) complex containing bis(diphenylphosphino)methane and phenylacetylide

The reaction of [Au(C≡CPh]∞ with dppm [bis(diphenylphosphino)methane] in ethanol gave [Au3(μ2-dppm)2(C≡CPh)2][Au(C≡CPh)2]. The complex has been characterized by X-ray crystal analysis. The structure consists of a trinuclear. [Au3(μ2-dppm)2 (C≡CPh)2]+ cation with the three gold atoms arranged in an isosceles triangle. The intramolecular AuċAu separations are 3.083(2) and 3.167(2)A˚. At room temperature, the [Au3(μ2-dppm)2(C≡CPh)2][Au(C≡CPh)2] complex is photoluminescent in the solid state and in solution.