Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: July 21, 2011
Aurophilicity: the effect of the neutral ligand L on [{ClAuL}(2) ] systems
Jesús Muñiz1, Cong Wang, Pekka Pyykkö
1Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O.B. 55 (A.I. Virtasen aukio 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland. jesus@chem.helsinki.fi
Abstract:
The effect of the ligand L on the aurophilic Au(I) ⋅⋅⋅Au(I) closed-shell interaction in perpendicular [{ClAuL}(2) ] model systems is investigated. An analogous study of the effect of the halide X (here Cl) exists, and showed a correlation with the softness of the ligand X. In this work, we study the correlation with L=N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), cyclic diphosphinocarbenes (PHC), NF(3) , CO, methyl isocyanide CNMe, PF(3) , SH(2) , NH(3) , H(2) O, pyridine, triazene, the carbodiphosphorene model C(PH(3) )(2) , C(3) H(2) , and the related model systems CN(2) or CP(2) . The NHCs yield stronger interactions than PH(3) . The spatial orientation of certain ligands in a "paddle" configuration plays an important role on the strength of the interaction. All are examples on aurophilicity.
Related Concept Videos
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties
Valence Bond Theory

