Gold Complexes of a P-Coordinate Cyclotriphosphazene

Contrary to the reports on the coordination oi copper (I) to N/P-ambidentate cyclotriphosphazenes, gold (I), gold (III) and dimethylgoldf 111) chloride are found to become exclusively P-coordinated to the prototype ligand 2-methyl-4, 4, 6, 6-tetraphenylcyclotriphosphazene (1). The P-H proton is transferred to an adjacent nitrogen atom of the heterocycle. According to temperature dependent NMR spectra, the AuCl and the AuCl₃ complexes are fluxional molecules or ions, resp., with a rapid proton transfer between P-NH-P and P = N-P functions. The behaviour is similar to that of related palladium and platinum complexes, reported previously.