Surveying the {AuCl} adducts of bulky phosphines bearing the 2,6-dimesitylphenyl group

A series of gold chloride {AuCl} adducts of the sterically demanding phosphines DmpPR2 (Dmp = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl; R = H (1); Me (2); Cl (3)) have been prepared. The adducts are readily formed by the reaction of Au(tht)Cl and DmpPR2, yielding [(DmpPR2)AuCl] (R = H (4); Me (5); Cl (6)) in moderate to excellent yields. All three new compounds have been structurally characterized. The structures demonstrate little or no significant intermolecular Au⋯Au or intramolecular Au⋯arene interactions. In addition, the new difluoroarylphosphine DmpPF2 (7) has been prepared and structurally characterized.