Ligand effects in homogeneous Au catalysis

Syntheses, X-ray crystal structures, and solution behavior of monomeric, cationic, two-coordinate gold(I) pi-alkene complexes

Treatment of a suspension of (IPr)AuCl [IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidine] and AgSbF(6) (1:1) with isobutylene at room temperature for 12 h led to isolation of [(NHC)Au(eta(2)-H(2)C=CMe(2))](+) SbF(6)(-) (1a) in 98% yield, which was characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. A number of cationic gold pi-alkene complexes were isolated employing a procedure similar to that used to isolate 1a, two of which were analyzed by X-ray crystallography. Spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and alkene binding studies were in accord with a gold-(pi-alkene) interaction dominated by sigma-donation from the alkene to gold.

Gold-catalyzed reactions of 1,5- and 1,6-enynes with carbonyl compounds: cycloaddition vs. metathesis

Gold and rings: The gold(I)-catalyzed addition of aldehydes to 1,6-enynes gives 1,3-dienes, by a cycloaddition/fragmentation process. 1,5-Enynes react with aldehydes and ketones by the 5-endo-dig pathway to give the corresponding cycloadducts.

Synthesis and structural characterisation of stable cationic gold(I) alkene complexes

Treatment of [AuCl(PBu(t)(3))] with AgSbF(6) in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature in the presence of the alkenes norbornene, norbornadiene, trans-cyclooctene, and also interestingly, isobutylene, leads to the formation of stable crystalline complexes [Au(PBu(t)(3))(alkene)][SbF(6)], characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

Gold-catalyzed [4C+3C] intramolecular cycloaddition of allenedienes: synthetic potential and mechanistic implications

Efficient at room temperature: The Au complex generated in situ from [(IPr)AuCl] and AgSbF(6) promotes the [4C+3C] intramolecular cycloaddition of allenes and dienes at room temperature, and in a particularly efficient and versatile manner. A DFT study on dimethylallenyl precursors agreed with the formation and cycloaddition of a metal-allyl cation intermediate, and points to the 1,2-hydride shift as the key rate-limiting step.

Ligand-controlled access to [4 + 2] and [4 + 3] cycloadditions in gold-catalyzed reactions of allene-dienes

By adjustment of the electronic properties of the ancilliary ligands, high selectivity can be achieved for either [4 + 2] or [4 + 3] cycloaddition reactions of allene-dienes catalyzed by gold(I). Triarylphosphitegold(I) complexes are employed as catalysts for a [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction leading to alkylidenecyclohexenes. Conversely, di-tert-butylbiphenylphosphinegold(I)-catalyzed reactions afford cycloheptadienes via [4 + 3] cycloaddition reactions.

Mechanistic studies on Au(I)-catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements using cyclopropane probes

A comparative study of the Au(I)-catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of propargylic esters and propargyl vinyl ethers is described. Stereochemically defined cyclopropanes are employed as mechanistic probes to provide new synthetic and theoretical data concerning the reversibility of this type of rearrangement. Factors controlling the structure-reactivity relationship of Au(I)-coordinated allenes have been examined, thereby allowing for controlled access to orthogonal reactivity.

[(NHC)Au(I)]-catalyzed acid-free alkyne hydration at part-per-million catalyst loadings

A highly efficient [(NHC)Au(I)]-based (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) catalytic system for the hydration of an array of alkynes that operates under acid-free conditions and at very low catalyst loadings (typically 50-100 ppm and as low as 10 ppm) was developed. Terminal and internal alkynes possessing any combination of alkyl and aryl substituents (alkyl/H, aryl/H, alkyl/alkyl, alkyl/aryl, and aryl/aryl) were found suitable substrates in the present catalytic system.

Gold(I)-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of benzopyrans via rearrangement of allylic oxonium intermediates

The first transition metal catalyzed asymmetric carboalkoxylation reaction of propargyl esters is described. The (R)-MeO-DTBM-BIPHEP(AuCl)(2)-catalyzed reactions allow for the construction of benzopyrans containing quaternary stereocenters with excellent enantioselectivity. Experimental evidence supports a mechanism proceeding via the generation of a stabilized carbocation from an allylic oxonium intermediate and subsequent trapping by a chiral allylgold(I) spieces.

Au(I)-Catalyzed cycloisomerizations terminated by sp(3) C-H bond insertion

The gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,5-enynes and 1,4-allylallenes to tetracyclododecane and tetracyclotridecane derivatives, respectively, is reported. Complexation of the cationic gold(I) complex to either the alkyne or allene moiety induces an intramolecular addition of the alkene, leading to a gold(I)-stabilized carbenoid intermediate. This intermediate undergoes a formal sp(3) C-H insertion to generate the tetracyclic adduct. A series of deuterium labeling experiments showed that the C-H functionalization step proceeds with an inverse kinetic isotope effect.

Gold(I) chloride coordinated 3-hexyne

A linear gold(I) complex featuring a simple, unstrained alkyne has been synthesized using AuCl and 3-hexyne and characterized using X-ray crystallography. Density functional theory calculations show that sigma donation from alkyne --> Au dominates over the Au --> alkyne pi back-donation.

Asymmetric synthesis of medium-sized rings by intramolecular Au(I)-catalyzed cyclopropanation

An efficient method for the asymmetric gold(I)-catalyzed preparation of medium sized rings has been developed. The method provides 7- to 9-membered rings in excellent yield. High enantioselectivities can be achieved for 7- and 8-membered ring products employing chiral gold(I) complexes. The results provide insight into the mechanism, showing the fluxional nature of gold(I)-stabilized vinyl carbenoid intermediates.