Chloro(dimethyl sulfide)gold(I)
Encyclopedia
Chlorogold(I) is an coordination complex of gold
. It is a white solid. This compound is a common entry point into gold chemistry.
(to give chloroauric acid
), followed by addition of dimethyl sulfide
. Alternatively, sodium tetrachloroaurate may be used as the source of gold(III). The bromo analog, Me2SAuBr, has also been synthesized by a similar route.
An approximate equation is:
ligand is easily displaced by other ligands:
Since Me2S is volatile, the new complex LAuCl is often easily purified.
When exposed to light and air, the compound decomposes to elemental gold.
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. It is a white solid. This compound is a common entry point into gold chemistry.
Structure
As for many other gold(I) complexes, the compound adopts a nearly linear (176.9°) geometry about the central gold centre. The Au-S bond distance is 2.271(2) Å, which is similar to other gold(I)-sulfur bonds.Preparation
Chloro(dimethyl sulfide)gold(I) is commercially available. It may be prepared by dissolving gold in aqua regiaAqua regia
Aqua regia or aqua regis is a highly corrosive mixture of acids, fuming yellow or red solution, also called nitro-hydrochloric acid. The mixture is formed by freshly mixing concentrated nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, usually in a volume ratio of 1:3, respectively...
(to give chloroauric acid
Chloroauric acid
Chloroauric acid is a inorganic compound with the formula HAuCl4. This pale yellow compound is a common precursor to gold in a variety of purposes. The term chloroauric acid is also sometimes used to describe other gold chlorides....
), followed by addition of dimethyl sulfide
Dimethyl sulfide
Dimethyl sulfide or methylthiomethane is an organosulfur compound with the formula 2S. Dimethyl sulfide is a water-insoluble flammable liquid that boils at and has a characteristic disagreeable odor. It is a component of the smell produced from cooking of certain vegetables, notably maize,...
. Alternatively, sodium tetrachloroaurate may be used as the source of gold(III). The bromo analog, Me2SAuBr, has also been synthesized by a similar route.
An approximate equation is:
- HAuCl4 + 2 SMe2 + H2O → Me2SAuCl + 3 HCl + OSMe2
Reactions
In chloro(dimethyl sulfide)gold(I), the dimethyl sulfideDimethyl sulfide
Dimethyl sulfide or methylthiomethane is an organosulfur compound with the formula 2S. Dimethyl sulfide is a water-insoluble flammable liquid that boils at and has a characteristic disagreeable odor. It is a component of the smell produced from cooking of certain vegetables, notably maize,...
ligand is easily displaced by other ligands:
- Me2SAuCl + L → LAuCl + Me2S (L = ligand)
Since Me2S is volatile, the new complex LAuCl is often easily purified.
When exposed to light and air, the compound decomposes to elemental gold.