Aurophilic attraction in binuclear complexes with Au(i) and Au(iii). A theoretical study

Model compounds are used to study the aurophilic attraction among gold atoms in the different oxidation states Au(I)–Au(I), Au(I)–Au(III) and Au(III)–Au(III). An attraction is found for all models and there is a reasonable agreement between the experimental and theoretical geometries at the MP2 level. The dispersion, induction and electrostatic multipole components to this attraction are analyzed using intermolecular models.