Gas-phase synthesis and intense visible absorption of tryptophangold cations

Abstract

The color of gold: The tryptophan-gold cation was synthesized and its unique optical properties were studied experimentally and by ab initio calculations (see picture). The complex exhibits strong absorption in the visible region owing to charge-transfer excitations, which make gold complexes attractive for bioapplications. © 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA,.