FAST ATOM BOMBARDMENT INDUCED DECOMPOSITION PATTERN OF THE GOLD(III) BIS(CARBENE) COMPLEX [((PARA-MEC6H4NH)(ETO)C)2AUI2]CIO4, A RETROSYNTHETIC PROCESS

The fast atom bombardment (FAB) induced decomposition pattern of the ionic bis(carbene)gold(HI) complex [{(P-MeC6H4NH)(EtO)C}2AuI2]ClO 4 (1) is described and discussed in detail with the aid of metastable data. A lack of [M]+ ions is observed when sulfolane is used as the matrix. Instead, the molecular species observed is the [M - H]•+ ion. The fragmentation pattern can be considered as a retrosynthetic process of the compound itself, never previously observed for an organometallic under FAB conditions. The MS pattern suggests the synthesis of the new carbene-methanide derivative 2, [{(p-MeC6H4NH)-(EtO)C}{(p-MeC6H 4N=)(EtO)C}Au], observed under FAB-MS conditions as the most stable ion. An independent synthesis was successful.