Three-coordinate, luminescent, water-soluble gold(I) phosphine complexes: structural characterization and photoluminescence properties in aqueous solution

The trigonal planar Au(I) complex Cs8[Au(TPPTS)3]·5.25H2O, TPPTS=tris-sulfonatophenyl phosphine, has been structurally characterized. The X-ray data for the triclinic crystal, , are a=13.7003(4) Å, b=18.0001(6) Å, c=18.2817(2) Å, α=100.249(2)°, β=99.593(2)°, γ=109.818(2)°, V=4046.3(2) Å3, Z=2. The complex has AuP distances of 2.374(6), 2.394(5), and 2.417(5) Å. A network of bonding has been found involving the Cs+ ions, the sulfonate groups of the ligands, and the H2O solvent molecules. Luminescence studies of [Au(TPPTS)3]8− and (TPA)3AuCl, TPA=1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, in the solid state and in solution are discussed and quenching studies of the luminescence of [Au(TPPTS)3]8− are reported with alkyl halides and oxygen.