Homoleptic gold(i) N-heterocyclic allenylidene complexes: excited-state properties and lyotropic chromonics

A series of phosphorescent Au(i) bis(N-heterocyclic allenylidene) complexes, namely [Au(=C=C=CR(1)R(2))2](+)X(-), were synthesized and structurally characterized. These organometallic complexes exhibit panchromatic transient absorption upon electronic photo-excitation and can self-organize into lyotropic chromonic mesophases in aqueous solutions.