Formation, expansion, and interconversion of metallarings in a sulfur-bridged Au(I) Co(III) coordination system.

A novel Au(I) Co(III) coordination system that is derived from the newly prepared [Co(D-nmp)2 ](-) (1(-) ; D-nmp=N-methyl-D-penicillaminate) and a gold(I) precursor Au(I) is reported. Complex 1(-) acts as a sulfur-donating metallaligand and reacts with the gold(I) precursor to give [Au2 Co2 (D-nmp)4 ] (2), which has an eight-membered Au(I) 2 Co(III) 2 metallaring. Treatment of 2 with [Au2 (dppe)2 ](2+) (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) leads to the formation of [Au4 Co2 (dppe)2 (D-nmp)4 ](2+) (3(2+) ), which consists of an 18-membered Au(I) 4 Co(III) 2 metallaring that accommodates a tetrahedral anion (BF4 (-) , ClO4 (-) , ReO4 (-) ). In solution, the metallaring structure of 3(2+) is readily interconvertible with the nine-membered Au(I) 2 Co(III) metallaring structure of [Au2 Co(dppe)(D-nmp)2 ](+) (4(+) ); this process depends on external factors, such as solvent, concentration, and nature of the counteranion. These results reveal the lability of the AuS and AuP bonds, which is essential for metallaring expansion and contraction.