[AuHg(o-C6H4PPh2)2I]: A dinuclear heterometallic blue emitter

Abstract

The heteronuclear AuI/HgII complex [AuHg(o-C6H4PPh2)2I] (1) was prepared by reacting of [Hg(2-C6H4PPh2)2] with [Au(tht)2]ClO4 (1:1) and NaI in excess. The heterometallic compound 1 has been structurally characterized and shows an unusual blue luminescent emission in the solid state. Theoretical calculations suggest that that the origin of the emission arises from the iodide ligand arriving at metal-based orbitals in a Ligand to Metal-Metal Charge Transfer transition.