Generation of gold ions in the solid state or in fluorosulfuric acid solution and their identification by ESR

The partial pyrolysis of gold(III) fluorosulfate, Au(SO 3 F) 3 , at temperatures below 145 o C allows the generation of Au 2+ defects in the solid residue by reductive elimination of SO 3 F radicals. Solvated Au 2+ is obtained by the reduction of Au(SO 3 F) 3 in HSO 3 3F solution by gold powder at 65 o C