Synthesis of a fluorescent gold(I) complex with a thiosemicarbazone, [Au2(3-NO2-Hbtsc)4]Cl2 · 2CH3CN

Direct reaction of gold(I) chloride with 3-nitrobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-NO2-Hbtsc) in the presence of triphenylphosphine in acetonitrile has yielded ionic complex, [Au2(3-NO2-Hbtsc)4]Cl2 · 2CH3CN (1). It exhibited an intense fluorescence band (λem) at 383 nm (λex = 300 nm), and two bands of medium intensity at 413 and 436 nm (λex = 350 nm). Complex 1 represents first example of ionic gold(I) complex with a thiosemicarbazone.