Molecular and electronic structure of cyclic trinuclear gold(I) Carbeniate complexes: Insights for structure/luminescence/conductivity relationships

Roy N. McDougald, Bhaskar Chilukuri, Huiping Jia, Michael R. Perez, Hassan Rabaâ, Xiaoping Wang, Vladimir N. Nesterov, Thomas R. Cundari, Bruce E. Gnade, Mohammad A. Omary

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Abstract

An experimental and computational study of correlations between solid-state structure and optical/electronic properties of cyclotrimeric gold(I) carbeniates, [Au3(RN=COR′)3] (R, R′ = H, Me, nBu, or cPe), is reported. Synthesis and structural and photophysical characterization of novel complexes [Au3(MeN=CO nBu)3], [Au3(nBuN=COMe) 3], [Au3(nBuN=COnBu)3], and [Au3(cPeN=COMe)3] are presented. Changes in R and R′ lead to distinctive variations in solid-state stacking, luminescence spectra, and conductive properties. Solid-state emission and excitation spectra for each complex display a remarkable dependence on the solid-state packing of the cyclotrimers. The electronic structure of [Au 3(RN=COR′)3] was investigated via molecular and solid-state simulations. Calculations on [Au3(HN=COH)3] models indicate that the infinitely extended chain of eclipsed structures with equidistant Au - Au intertrimer aurophilic bonding can have lower band gaps, smaller Stokes shifts, and reduced reorganization energies (λ). The action of one cyclotrimer as a molecular nanowire is demonstrated via fabrication of an organic field effect transistor and shown to produce a p-type field effect. Hole transport for the same cyclotrimer-doped within a poly(9-vinylcarbazole) host-produced a colossal increase in current density from ∼1 to ∼1000 mA/cm2. Computations and experiments thus delineate the complex relationships between solid-state morphologies, electronic structures, and optoelectronic properties of gold(I) carbeniates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7485-7499
Number of pages15
JournalInorganic Chemistry
Volume53
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 21 2014

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science FoundationCHE-0911690
National Stroke FoundationCHE-0741936, CHE-0701247

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