A hybrid bipy-NHC ligand for the construction of group 11 mixed-metal bimetallic complexes.

An asymmetric bipy/NHC ligand L has been used to construct Au/Au, Au/Ag and Au/Cu bimetallic complexes through prior coordination of the NHC to Au(i) and subsequent introduction of the second group 11 metal ion at the bipy donor of the hybrid ligand. The complex [Au(κ C -L) 2 ]BF 4, 1, has been used as the precursor for the formation of [AuAg(κ- C Au ,κ 2 - N , N ' Ag -1) 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 , 2a, [AuCu(κ- C Au ,κ 2 - N , N ' Cu -1) 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 , 2b and [AuAu'(κ-C Au/Au' ,κ 1 -N Au/Au' -1) 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 , 3.