Names | |
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Systematic IUPAC name
tetra-μ-chlorotetrachlorotetragold | |
Other names
Mixed gold chloride, Tetragold octachloride
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Identifiers | |
3D model (
JSmol)
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PubChem
CID
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Properties | |
Au 4Cl 8 | |
Molar mass | 1071.490 g mol−1 |
Appearance | black crystals |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their
standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Gold(I,III) chloride is a black solid with the chemical formula Au4 Cl8. It is an example of a mixed valence compound as it contains gold in two different oxidation states; square-planar gold(III) and almost linear gold(I). The compound is photosensitive as well as air- and moisture-sensitive.
Gold(I,III) chloride may be prepared by the reaction of gold(III) chloride with gold carbonyl chloride [1] or carbon monoxide [2] at room temperature in thionyl chloride.
Single crystals of gold(I,III) chloride are triclinic with a P1 space group and consist of discrete Au4Cl8 molecules with idealised C2h symmetry. [1] Within this the Au(I) centers are linearly coordinated with a Cl-Au-Cl bond angle of 175.0° (close to the ideal value of 180°) and an average bond length of 2.30 Å. The Au(III) centers adopt a slightly irregular square-planar conformation with the Au-Cl bond lengths for bridging chlorides (2.33 Å) being slightly longer than those of terminal chlorides (2.24 Å).