Gold-Catalyzed Anti-Markovnikov Selective Hydrothiolation of Unactivated Alkenes

Single-Electron Transfer between CuX2 and Thiols Determined by Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Analysis: Application in Markovnikov-Type Hydrothiolation of Styrenes

Transition-metal mediated C-S bond formation using thiol compounds has been widely used in recent years. However, there has been less focus on the interaction between the metal and thiol compounds. In this work, we have successfully evidenced the single-electron transfer between CuX₂ and thiophenol utilizing EXAFS. The fitting EXAFS results reveal that two halide anions are coordinated with the Cu^I center, whereas no sulfur atom is observed in the first coordination sphere. This Cu^I ate complex serves as the key intermediate for the proton transfer in the application of Markovnikov-type hydrothiolation reactions.

A Switchable Gold Catalyst by Encapsulation in a Self-Assembled Cage

Dinuclear gold complexes have the ability to interact with one or more substrates in a dual-activation mode, leading to different reactivity and selectivity than their mononuclear relatives. In this contribution, this difference was used to control the catalytic properties of a gold-based catalytic system by site-isolation of mononuclear gold complexes by selective encapsulation. The typical dual-activation mode is prohibited by this catalyst encapsulation, leading to typical behavior as a result of mononuclear activation. This strategy can be used as a switch (on/off) for a catalytic reaction and also permits reversible control over the product distribution during the course of a reaction.