Intermolecular aurophilic interactions facilitate assembly of a complex rotaxane in solution

摘要

We describe the formation of a complex [2]rotaxane both in solution and in the solid state. The rotaxane ring is composed of a cyclic trinuclear gold complex and the Au(PMe_3)_2~+ rod is held in place by three aurophilic interactions to the ring Au atoms. The existence of the [2]rotaxane in solution is confirmed by VT-NMR and MS analysis.rnThe term "aurophilic interaction" refers to Au…Au contacts between 2.8 and 3.3 A, which is well within the sum of the van der Waals radii of two Au~+ ions (i.e. 3.6 A) and comparable to the metal-metal separation in metallic gold (i.e. 2.89 A).