Crystal structures of AuCN and AgCN and vibrational spectroscopic studies of AuCN, AgCN, and CuCN

The commercial significance of some of the complexes formed in group 11 metal cyanide systems has attracted keen interest in the study of this group of cyanides. Details of the solid-state structures of the group 11 metal cyanides MCN (where M = Cu, Ag and Au) remain unknown, however. A study was therefore conducted using X-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques and vibrational spectroscopy to acquire a more detailed insight into the structures of these complexes.