Au–O Interactions and others in triphenylphosphinegold(I) sulfanylpropenoates with diverse structures

We investigated the reactions of triphenylphosphinegold(I) chloride in ethanol or methanol with the 3-(2-aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids H2xspa [x = f, t, p; f = 3-(2-furyl)-, t = 3-(2-thienyl)-, p = 3-phenyl-; spa = 2-sulfanylpropenoato] in 1 :1 and 2 :1 mole ratios, and the reactions of diisopropylamine with the 1 :1 complexes. Compounds of types [Au(PPh3)(Hxspa)], [HQ][Au(PPh3)(xspa)](HQ = diisopropylammonium) and [(AuPPh3)2(xspa)] were isolated and characterized by IR, Raman and FAB mass spectrometry and by 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The structures of (Htspa)2·Me2CO and of the complexes [Au(PPh3)(Hfspa)](1), [HQ][Au(PPh3)(pspa)](6), [(AuPPh3)2(fspa)](7), [(AuPPh3)2(tspa)]· 2MeOH (8·2MeOH) and [(AuPPh3)2pspa]·2MeOH (9·2MeOH) were determined by X-ray diffractometry; those of the Au complexes exhibit (pi)-stacking, hydrogen bonding and Au–Au and Au–O interactions as well as the expected Au–S and Au–P bonds.