Selenium-Bridged Gold(I) Complex Cations [Au10Se4(dppm)4]2+ and [Au18Se8(dppe)6]2+

The very stable selenium-bridged gold complexes [Au10Se4(dppm)4]Br2 and [Au18Se8(dppe)6]Cl2 were obtained by the reaction of gold halide–phosphane complexes [(AuX)2(Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2)] (X=halide; n=1, 2) with silylated selenium derivatives. With the help of electrospray/ionization it was possible to promote the cation [Au18Se8(dppe)6]2+ (see structure; m/z 6568 (!)) nearly fragment-free into the gas phase. dppm=bis(diphenylphosphanyl)methane, dppe=bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane.