Versatile binding modes of acyclic N2X2 (X = O, S and P) ligands towards [GeCl]+ and AuCl units

The compliance of three acyclic flexible ligands of the type N2X2 with CH2CH2 linker in the backbone: diiminodi(furan) L1, diiminodi(thiophene) L2 and diiminodiphosphine L3 have been employed for the coordination of chlorogermyliumylidene and gold(I) chloride units. The chlorogermyliumylidenes have been stabilized by the two imino nitrogen coordinating sites present in L1 and L2 yielding compounds 1 and 2 respectively. Based on metal:ligand stoichiometry used, the phosphino groups present in L3 can coordinate to either one AuCl unit giving compound 3 or to two AuCl units forming compound 4. All the compounds have been characterized by NMR techniques and single crystal X-ray crystallography.