THE STRUCTURE OF THE BIS(TRIPHENYLPHOSPHINE)GOLD(I) COMPLEX IN PYRIDINE SOLUTION

The structure of the bis(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) complex in pyridin e solution has been determined by means of the large angle X-ray scatt ering (LAXS) technique. The Au-P bond distances are 2.325(8) angstrom and the six shortest (three per triphenylphosphine) Au-C distances are 3.44(3) angstrom. These values agree with those found for the unsolva ted linear bis(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) complex in solid compounds. No pyridine molecules are coordinated to gold(I) in its inner coordina tion sphere, and the complex most probably remains linear even in such a strongly solvating solvent as pyridine. This result is compared wit h those previously found for dihalogenocuprate(I) and mercury(II) hali de complexes in solution.