A new gold(III)-aminoethyl imidazolium aurate salt: Synthesis, characterization and reactivity

Tetrachloroauric acid HAuCl4 reacts with the ionic liquid 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-methylimidazolium nitrate [NH2(CH2)2ImMe]NO3, (2b) or its dicationic ammonium salt [NH3(CH2)2ImMe][NO3]2, (3) in methanolic solutions to give the novel gold(III)-aminoethyl imidazolium aurate salt [Cl3AuNH2(CH2)2ImMe][AuCl4] (4). The reaction of 4 with [nBu4]Cl gives [NH2(CH2)2ImMe][AuCl4] (2c) whereas with acetone the dicationic, iminium-functionalized, imidazolium aurate salt [Me2C=N(H)(CH2)2ImMe][AuCl4]2 (5) has been isolated. The structures in the solid state of 2c, 3, 4, and 5 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical behaviour of 4 has been examined by Cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile and compared with 2c and KAuCl4.