Heterodinuclear bis(diphenylphosphino)methane-bridged molybdenum (d6)-gold (d10) complexes: metal-metal interactions and ligand oxidation

The reaction between mer-Mo(dpm-P,P')(dpm-P)(CO)3 and Ph3PAuCl, where dpm = bis((diphenylphosphino)methane), is investigated. This reaction may form two products and is solvent dependent. The products, which include((OC)3MoCl(mu-dpm)2Au).2(C2H5)2O and ((dpm-O)2Mo(CO)2AuPPh3)(PF6).CH2Cl2.0.25CH3OH.0.25H2O, are binuclear complexes possessing Mo and Au, with the latter possessing a Mo-Au bond. Both complexes contain six-coordinate Mo(0) centers, with the latter having a pair of molybdenum d(sub pi) electrons forming a dative Mo-Au bond.