Synthesis, Characterization and Electron Beam Assisted Decomposition of (NO₂)[Au(NO₃)₄]

Yellow single crystals of (NO 2 )[Au(NO 3 ) 4 ] (monoclinic, P 2 1 / n, Z = 2, a = 775.1(2) pm, b = 810.2(2) pm, c = 898.7(2) pm, β = 112.67(3)°, wR 2 = 0.0622) were obtained from the reaction of elemental gold with N 2 O 5 . In the crystal structure complex [Au(NO 3 ) 4 ] − ions are present with the Au 3+ ions being in square planar coordination of four oxygen atoms of just as many monodentate nitrate groups. Charge compensation is achieved by linear NO 2 + ions. (NO 2 )[Au(NO 3 ) 4 ] decomposes between 363 and 423 K in a complex process yielding elemental gold. Solutions of (NO 2 )[Au(NO 3 ) 4 ] in N 2 O 5 were used to build contamination free structures of elemental gold onto a silica surface by electron beam initiated decomposition of the compound.