Gold(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives of N-methylglicine: an experimental and theoretical investigation

The synthesis and characterization of the gold(III) complexes [(HSDT)AuX2] and [(HSDT)2Au]X (X = Cl, Br; HSDT = sarcosinedithiocarbamate (N-methylglycinedithiocarbamate)) are reported. In the discussed compounds coordination takes place through the sulfur atoms in a square-planar geometry around the gold(III) metal center. The characterization of the complexes has been carried out by means of elemental analysis, conductance measurements, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the molecular structure of the 1:1 metal-to-ligand complexes has been further investigated by means of density functional calculations, confirming the conclusions reached upon application of the other chemical characterization techniques. The complex [(HSDT)3Au] has been also synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry, FT-IR, NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, even if a definitive determination of its structure has not been undoubtedly accomplished.