POLY[(TRI-(T)BUTYL-PHOSPHINE)GOLD(I)]AMMONIUM TETRAFLUOROBORATES AND BIS(TRI-(T)BUTYL-PHOSPHINE)GOLD(I) TETRAFLUOROBORATE

The reaction of tris[(tri-'butyl-phosphine)gold(I)]oxonium tetrafluoro borate with close to stoichiometric quantities of ammonia in dichlorom ethane at -78 degrees C affords tetrakis[(tri-'butyl-phosphine)gold(I) ] ammonium tetrafluoroborate, the structure of which has been determin ed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The cation features a strongly distorted NAu4 tetrahedron with four short and two longer Au-Au edges . - With a large excess of ammonia, only partially aurated ammonium sa lts are formed, as suggested by detailed NMR spectroscopic and mass sp ectrometric studies. These partially aurated intermediates have not be en isolated. Slow decomposition processes in these solutions lead to t he precipitation of bis(tri-'butyl-phosphine)gold(I) tetrafluoroborate . The structure of the bis(chloroform) solvate has also been determine d. The crystals contain two independent C-3-symmetrical cations with s imilar structures.