Highly Stable [C₆₀AuC₆₀]^+/– Dumbbells

Abstract

Ionic complexes between\ngold and C₆₀ have been observed\nfor the first time. Cations and anions of the type [Au­(C₆₀)₂]^+/– are shown to have particular\nstability. Calculations suggest that these ions adopt a C₆₀–Au–C₆₀ sandwich-like (dumbbell) structure,\nwhich is reminiscent of [XAuX]^+/– ions previously\nobserved for much smaller ligands. The [Au­(C₆₀)₂]^+/– ions can be regarded as Au­(I) complexes, regardless\nof whether the net charge is positive or negative, but in both cases,\nthe charge transfer between the Au and C₆₀ is incomplete,\nmost likely because of a covalent contribution to the Au–C₆₀ binding. The C₆₀–Au–C₆₀ dumbbell structure represents a new architecture in fullerene chemistry\nthat might be replicable in synthetic nanostructures.