Photooxidation of Dicyanoaurate(I) Induced by Metal-to-Ligand Charge Transfer Excitation

Abstract

The irradiation of [Au(CN)2]_ in oxygen-saturated acetonitrile leads to photooxidation of Au(I). In the presence of additional chloride [AutCN^CL]-is formed with < /> = 0 .5 x 1 0 -4 at Ajrr = 2 5 4 nm. It is assumed that [Au(CN)2]~ in its metal-to-ligand charge transfer state undergoes an excited state electron transfer to oxygen in the primary photochemical step.