Complex {[Hg(C(6)F(5))(2)][Au(C(6)F(5))(PMe(3))](2)}(n)2 displays unsupported Au(I)···Hg(II) and Au(I)···Au(I) interactions. Its crystal structure displays a polymeric -(Au-Hg-Au-Au-Hg-Au)(n)- disposition. Ab initio calculations show very strong Au(I)···Hg(II) and Au(I)···Au(I) closed-shell interactions of -73.3 kJ mol(-1) and -57.0 kJ mol(-1), respectively, which have a dispersive (van der Waals) nature and are strengthened by large relativistic effects (>20%).

Two water-soluble [Au( N-adeninate)(PR)] complexes (PR = PMe (1); PTA (3)) were synthesized by the coordination of the respective cationic [Au(PR)] fragment to the N position of the adeninate anion. Both complexes crystallize as dimers by aurophilic contacts of 3.2081(6) Å in 1 and 3.0942(7) and 3.0969(7) Å in 3, but different packings are observed due to the crystallizing solvent choice and the nature of the ancillary phosphine ligand. At this regard, different supramolecular behavior is observed in water, ranges from the formation of ultrathin nanowires of 5.3 ± 1.9 nm of diameter and up to 1.5 μm in length and leads to a blue-luminescent hydrogel for 1, to the single-crystallization of 3. Parallel computational studies carried out show that aurophilicity and N-H···N or O-H···N hydrogen bonding are comparable in strength, suggesting a competition between all types of weak forces in the final observed macroscopic properties.

Reactions between [Au(C6Cl2F3)(tht)] and P,N-donor bridging ligands of the type PPh2py and (PPh2)2phen lead to the homonuclear gold complexes [Au(C6Cl2F3)(PPh2py)] (1) and [Au2(C6Cl2F3)2{(PPh2)2phen}] (2). Subsequent addition of [Cu(CH3CN)4](BF4) leads to the formation of the corresponding gold-copper heterometallic complexes [Au2Cu(C6Cl2F3)2(PPh2py)2](BF4) (3) and [Au2Cu(C6Cl2F3)2{(PPh2)2phen)}(CH3CN)](BF4) (4). The four complexes have been structurally characterized and are luminescent. The gold precursors show emissions arising from metal-perturbed intraligand transitions. The heterometallic complexes show a red shift of the emissions that is proposed to arise from an admixture of IL (intraligand) and MLCT (metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer) transitions. DFT and TD-DFT calculations agree well with these results.

Pt-based heterobimetallic lantern complexes of the form [PtM(SOCR)(L)] have been shown previously to form intermolecular metallophilic interactions and engage in antiferromagnetic coupling between lanterns having M atoms with open shell configurations. In order to understand better the influence of the carboxylate bridge and terminal ligand on the electronic structure, as well as the metal-metal interactions within each lantern unit, a series of diamagnetic lantern complexes, [PtMg(SAc)(OH)] (1), [PtMg(tba)(OH)] (2), [PtCa(tba)(OH)] (3), [PtZn(tba)(OH)] (4), and a mononuclear control (PhP)[Pt(SAc)] (5) have been synthesized. Crystallographic data show close Pt-M contacts enforced by the lantern structure in each dinuclear case. Pt-NMR spectroscopy of 1-4, (PhP)[Pt(SAc)] (5), and several previously reported lanterns revealed a strong chemical shift dependence on the identity of the second metal (M), mild influence by the thiocarboxylate ligand (SOCR; R = CH (thioacetate, SAc), CH (thiobenzoate, tba)), and modest influence from the terminal ligand (L). Fluorescence spectroscopy has provided evidence for a Pt···Zn metallophilic interaction in [PtZn(SAc)(OH)], and computational studies demonstrate significant dative character. In all of 1-4, the short Pt-M distances suggest that metal-only Lewis donor (Pt)-Lewis acceptor (M) interactions could be present. DFT and NBO calculations, however, show that only the Zn examples have appreciable covalent character, whereas the Mg and Ca complexes are much more ionic.

A novel and efficient strategy for the synthesis of luminescent polymers bearing metallophilic interactions with unprecedented charge sequences has been designed. For this end suitable basic gold units such as [AuR], bearing perhalophenyl derivatives, and dinuclear acid silver terpyridine species, [Ag(terpy)](CFSO), have been chosen. Their combination originates the polymeric derivatives [{AuR}Ag(terpy)] (R = CF, CClF) or [{Au(CCl)}Ag(terpy)]. The change of the perhalophenyl group in the gold complex modulates the strength in the metallophilic contacts and, consequently, the polymer arrays and luminescent properties. The X-ray diffraction studies of these derivatives revealed that there are polymers with unusual + + - - + + - - charge sequences for the R = CF and CClF species, whereas the more classical + - + - disposition was found for the bulkiest CCl derivative. Their luminescent properties also vary depending on the formation of these polymer arrays, and time-dependent density functional theory calculations were performed to determine the origin of the luminescence.