The Original Coordination Chemistry of 2‑Phosphaphenol with Copper(I) and Gold(I) Halides

2-Phosphaphenol (L) forms unusual
complexes with copper and gold halides. With CuCl, a dimeric [L2CuCl]2 complex is observed with L acting both as
η1-P terminal and μ2-P bridging
ligand and a copper–copper short contact of 2.549 Å. With
copper bromide, a distorted infinite chain [L2CuBr]n is formed, whereas with copper iodide, the
zigzag chain [L2CuI]n is observed.
The phosphaphenol acts as a terminal ligand coating the CuX molecular
wires. With gold chloride, a dimeric [LAuCl]2 complex is
formed, which is held by an aurophilic interaction at 3.132 Å.