Synthesis, structure and luminescence studies of heterometallic gold(I)-copper(I) and -silver(I) alkynyl clusters/aggregates

A series of pentanuclear gold(I)-copper(I) and -silver(I) mixed-metal alkynyl complexes, [(n)Bu(4)N][Au(3)M(2)(C triple bond CC(6)H(4)R-p)(6)] [M = Cu, R = OMe, O(n)Bu, O(n)Hex, Me, Et; M = Ag, R = Et, O(n)Hex] have been synthesized. The complexes were found to be emissive both in the solid state and in fluid solutions. DFT calculations at the B3LYP level of theory were performed on [Au(3)M(2)(C triple bond CC(6)H(4)Me-p)(6)](-) (M = Cu, Ag) to provide an understanding on the electronic structure of the complexes.