Gold(I) derivatives of nitronyl nitroxide
(NN) stabilized by complexation
with phosphine ligands were designed to promote dimerization of the
paramagnets in the solid state via Au–Au bonding. The complexes
were successfully synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding
phosphine [n-Bu3P or (4-FC6H4)3P], AuCl(THT), and NN–H under basic
conditions in high yields. The gold(I) complexes were characterized
by cyclic voltammetry, electron spin resonance, infrared, and UV/vis
spectroscopy supported by quantum chemical calculations. Crystallographic
analyses of the complexes showed that they possess Au–Au bonds
(2.930 and 3.095 Å). The Au–Au bonding was confirmed by
density functional theory calculations and quantum theory of “atoms
in molecules” and natural bond orbital analyses, which made
it possible to determine bond critical points (3, −1) and Au–Au
bond orders (0.36 and 0.23) as well as to estimate the orbital contribution
to the energy of Au–Au bonds (12.0 and 8.6 kcal/mol).