X-ray structural determination of a bulky phosphine complex: chloro{tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine}gold(I), {AuCl[P(C9H11O3)3]}

Abstract The title compound, {AuCl[P(C 9 H 11 O 3 ) 3 ]}, has three fold symmetry in the solid state. The AuCl and AuP bond lengths are 2.294 and 2.255 A, respectively, and the Au atom has nearly linear coordination geometry, with PAuCl 176.03(9)°. The extreme bulkiness of the phosphine ligand is shown by the mean cone angle of 188° (based on O atoms defining the cone), though the cone angle is considerably smaller than 214° for trimesitylphosphine in the known analogous complex. The shorter AuP bond distance than for AgP (2.379(1) A) in the corresponding known silver chloride complex of tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine tentatively supports an earlier conclusion that gold is smaller than silver.