Self-assembly of a Au16 ring via metal-metal bonding interactions

Metal-metal bonding interactions have been employed as an efficient strategy to generate a number of unique gold(I) metallo-macrocycles with fascinating functions. The self-assembly, crystal structure and emission property of novel nest-like tetramer 1(4), namely, {[Au(4) (μ-dppm)2 (μ-dctp(2-))](BF(4))(2)}(4)⋅(CH(3)CN)(2) (dppm=bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, dctp(2-) =N,N'-bis(dicarbodithioate)-2,11-diaza[3.3]paracyclophane) is reported. The complex has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and CSI-MS spectrometry. The aggregate demonstrates the sixteen gold(I) atoms are arranged in a ring with a circumference of 50.011(68) Å generated by Au(I) ⋅⋅⋅Au(I) attractions. UV/visible and luminescence spectroscopy revealed that this Au(I) ⋅⋅⋅Au(I) bonded metallo-macrocycle exhibited yellow phosphorescence.