BIS(4,5-DIMETHYLIMIDAZOL-2-YLIDENE)GOLD(I) CHLORIDE HYDRATE - AN UNEXPECTED PRODUCT FROM THE REACTION OF TRIS(4,5-DIMETHYLIMIDAZOL-2-YL)PHOSPHINE AND TETRACHLOROAURIC ACID

[Au(C5H8N2)2]Cl.H2O, M(r) = 442.7, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 7.692 (2), b = 11.351 (2), c = 16.890 (3) angstrom, beta = 97.98 (2)-degrees, V = 1460.4 (5) angstrom3, Z = 4, D(m) = 2.01 (1), D(x) = 2.013 Mg m-3, lambda(Mo Kalpha) = 0.71073 angstrom, mu = 10.25 mm-1, F(000) = 840, T = 298 (1) K, R = 0.0350, wR = 0.0394 for 2581 unique reflections and 148 parameters. The Au atom is nearly rectilinearly bonded to C atoms from two imidazole rings. Part of the deviation of the C-Au-C angle [175.8 (2)-degrees] from 180-degrees is to allow the Au atoms in neighbouring cations to approach one another; Au...Au'= 3.372 (1) angstrom. The Au-C distances [2.012 (6) and 2.016 (6) angstrom] are similar to those in bis(1-benzylimidazolin-2-ylidene)gold(I) chloride (2.027 angstrom average) [Bonati, Burini & Pietroni (1989). J. Organomet. Chem. 375, 147-160].