Networks from Trinuclear Units

Cyclic trinuclear gold(I) complexes provide a novel and productive strategy for achieving supramolecular structures. While molecules of this type have been known for more than twenty years, some of their remarkable properties have only been recognized recently. Some can form liquid crystals at room temperature [41], while others lead to luminescent materials with surprising properties. We will now summarize some selected examples to illustrate the behavior of these trinuclear systems. 

In 1997 Balch et al. published an outstanding study describing the synthesis, structural characterization and unexpected optical properties of the columnar 

the addition of a few drops of acetone to a previously irradiated solid led to an intense yellow emission, visible to the human eye for a few seconds. This emission was the same as the lower energy emission detected in the solid state. Several other liquids such as chloroform, dichloromethane, toluene, methanol, hexane or even water produced the same phenomenon and the intensity of the emission depended 

At this point, a question arises is the structural arrangement so important in the storage of energy  

The same laboratory attempted to answer this question by performing an in-depth study. Thus, if we analyze the optical properties of the already commented solvolu-minescent material [Au3(CH3N=COCH3)3] and the related [Au3(PhCH2N=COCH3)3] in relation to their structures [44], further knowledge can be obtained. 

---