Find in Library

Aggregating gold(I) complexes in solution through short aurophilic contacts promotes new photoluminescent deactivation pathways (aggregation-induced emission, AIE). The time dependence of spontaneous AIE is seldom studied. We examine the behavior of complex [Au(<i>N</i>⁹-hypoxanthinate)(PTA)] (<b>1</b>) in an aqueous solution with the aid of variable-temperature NMR, time-resolved UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy, and PGSE NMR. The studies suggest that partial ligand scrambling in favor of the ionic [Au(PTA)₂][Au(<i>N</i>⁹-hypoxanthinate)₂] pair followed by anion oligomerization takes place. The results are rationalized with the aid of computational calculations at the TD-DFT level of theory and IRI analysis of the electron density.