Unprecedented gold-tellurolate clusters [Au(8)(mu-TeR)(8)(PR'(3))(4)]

The reaction of [AuCl(PR'3)] with KTeR, prepared from RTeTeR and K-selectride, gives the gold-tellurolate clusters [Au8(mu-TeR)8(PR'3)4] (R = Ph, Tol; PR'3 = PPh3, PPh2py) in high yield. This result contrasts with the one obtained from the reaction with thiolates or selenolates, from which mononuclear complexes are synthesized. The structures of these species have been determined and consist on three layers of gold and tellurium atoms in the ratio Au3Te2:Au2Te4:Au3Te2. There are short gold...gold interactions ranging from 2.9463(7) to 3.31132(7) A, and the clusters are composed of di- and tri-coordinated gold centers. The result is unprecedented in gold-chalcogenolate chemistry from which mononuclear species are expected and represents one of the few examples of gold-tellurolate derivatives. These species show an interesting luminescent behavior in the solid state (at 77 K) and in solution (both at 298 and 77 K).