Synthesis and Catalysis: Open Access

Aurophilicity is a term which was introduced in 1989 to describe the phenomena in the structural chemistry of gold. It helps in the understanding of the unique properties of gold which cannot be readily rationalized by conventional concepts of chemical bonding. It is the tendency of gold complexes to aggregate via formation of weak gold-gold bonds. The binding energy of aurophilic interactions is 20–60 kJ mol−1. An important and exploitable property of aurophilic interactions relevant to their supermolecular chemistry is that while both inter- and intramolecular interactions are possible, intermolecular aurophilic linkages are comparatively weak and easily broken by solvation. Metallophilic interactions is the similar term for other heavy metals, such as mercury and palladium.

Related Journals of Aurophilicity

Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics, Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Research & Reviews: Journal of Chemistry, Gold Chemistry: The Aurophilic Attraction, Aurophilicity−Coordination Interplay in the Design of Cyano.