AuSO4: A true gold(II) sulfate with an Au-2(4+) ion

Red single crystals of AuSO4 have been obtained by evaporating a solution o f Au(OH)(3) in concentrated sulfuric acid. The crystal structure (orthorhom bic, Pbca, Z = 8, a = 854.9(2), b = 824.9(3), c = 1001.1(4) pm) exhibits th e dumbbell shaped Au,4, cation (bond length Au-Au: 249 pm) which is coordin ated by two chelating and two monodentate SO42- groups. The monodentate sul fate anions act as chelating ligand to another Au-2(4+) ion leading to infi nite sheets according to (2)(infinity) [(Au-2)(SO4)(4/2)] which are stacked in [001] direction.