Synthesis, Mesomorphism, Photophysics, and Device Properties of Liquid-Crystalline Pincer Complexes of Gold(III) Containing Semiperfluorinated Chains

Gold(III), Mercury(II), and Palladium(II) Complexes of a Series of Isomeric Bis(mono- and dialkoxyphenyl)pyridines: Introduction of Gold through Transmetalation and Catalysis

A series of isomeric bis-2,6-(monoalkoxyphenyl)pyridine and bis-2,6-(dialkoxyphenyl)pyridine ligands were synthesized and characterized. In order to prepare their chlorogold(III) complexes, intermediate chloromercury(II) complexes were first prepared, but unlike observations from previous studies where they were obtained impure and at best in moderate yield, here pure complexes were synthesized, many in rather high yields. Depending on the substitution pattern of the alkoxy chains on the ligands, mono- and/or dimercurated complexes were obtained, characterized by 1H, 13C{1H}, and 199Hg NMR spectroscopy as well as, in several cases, by X-ray crystallography. Factors that may explain this unusual reactivity are discussed. In most cases, transmetalation to the related chlorogold(III) complex proceeded smoothly, although lower yields were obtained when starting from doubly mercurated precursors. Prompted by the propensity of these ligands to mercurate, attempts were made to effect direct auration, but none was successful. However, dimeric, orthometalated complexes of palladium(II) could be prepared and were also amenable to transmetalation to the chlorogold(III) complex, providing for a mercury-free synthesis.

On the mercuration, palladation, transmetalation and direct auration of a C^N^C pincer ligand

The C^N^C ligand 2,6-bis(2,3-dialkoxyphenyl)pyridine forms dimercury and orthopalladated complexes, both of which may be transmetallated to gold(III) complexes; the gold complexes may also be formed directly in a Rh(III)-catalysed process, hence it is possible to circumvent the use of organomercury intermediates in the synthesis of this important class of compound.