title: Self-assembly of coordination polymers: evidence for dynamic exchange between oligomers in solution and the isolation of a homochiral decagold(I) oligomer.
abstract: Reactions of the precursor molecules [Au2(mu-BINAP)(O2CCF3)2], 1a, racemic BINAP, 1b, S-BINAP (BINAP = 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl) with the easily exchanged linear bis(pyridine) ligand 1,2-trans-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bipyen) gave the polymeric complex [{Au2(mu-R-BINAP)0.5(mu-S-BINAP)0.5(mu-bipyen)}n](CF3CO2)2n, 2a, but either the polymer [{Au2(mu-S-BINAP)(mu-bipyen)}n](CF3CO2)2n, 2b, or the remarkable oligomeric [Au10(mu-S-BINAP)5(mu-bipyen)4(kappa1-bipyen)2](CF3CO2)10, 3, respectively. The type of oligomer 3 is a missing link in the ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic coordination compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6A 5B7.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wheaton
authors.forename: Dana J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Eisler
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Puddephatt