π-Alkene/alkyne and carbene complexes of gold(I) stabilized by chelating ligands

A Gold(I)-Acetylene Complex Synthesised using Single-Crystal Reactivity

Using single-crystal to single-crystal solid/gas reactivity the gold(I) acetylene complex [Au(L1)(η2-HC≡CH)][BArF 4] is cleanly synthesized by addition of acetylene gas to single crystals of [Au(L1)(CO)][BArF 4] [L1=tris-2-(4,4'-di-tert-butylbiphenyl)phosphine, ArF=3,5-(CF3)2C6H3]. This simplest gold-alkyne complex has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy and periodic DFT. Bonding of HC≡CH with [Au(L1)]+ comprises both σ-donation and π-backdonation with additional dispersion interactions within the cavity-shaped phosphine.

Combining ligand-enhanced backdonation and steric shielding to stabilize a mono-substituted Au(I) carbene

A mono-substituted Au(I) carbene was prepared by reacting HC(N₂)(Dmp) (Dmp = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl) with an (o-carboranyl)-diphosphine AuNTf₂ complex. It is stable up to -10 °C and was characterized by NMR spectrocopy. According to DFT calculations, the chelating P^P ligand enhances Au → C_carb backdonation, while the Dmp substituent provides kinetic stabilization but does not bias the electronic structure of the carbene complex.

Gold(I) α‐Trifluoromethyl Carbenes: Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity Studies

Aryl trifluoromethyl diazomethanes 2‐R (R=Ph, OMe, CF₃) are readily decomposed by the (o‐carboranyl)diphosphine gold(I) complex 1. The resulting α‐CF₃ substituted carbene complexes 3‐R have been characterized by multi‐nuclear NMR spectroscopy as well as X‐ray crystallography (for 3‐Ph). The bonding situation was thoroughly assessed by computational means, showing stabilization of the electrophilic carbene center by π‐donation from the aryl substituent and backdonation from Au, as enhanced by the chelating P^P ligand. Reactivity studies under stoichiometric and catalytic conditions substantiate typical carbene‐type behavior for 3‐Ph.

Dicoordinate Au(I)-Ethylene Complexes as Hydroamination Catalysts

A series of gold(I)–ethylene π-complexes containing a family of bulky phosphine ligands has been prepared. The use of these sterically congested ligands is crucial to stabilize the gold(I)–ethylene bond and prevent decomposition, boosting up their catalytic performance in the highly underexplored hydroamination of ethylene. The precatalysts bearing the most sterically demanding phosphines showed the best results reaching full conversion to the hydroaminated products under notably mild conditions (1 bar of ethylene pressure at 60 °C). Kinetic analysis together with density functional theory calculations revealed that the assistance of a second molecule of the nucleophile as a proton shuttle is preferred even when using an extremely congested cavity-shaped Au(I) complex. In addition, we have measured a strong primary kinetic isotopic effect that is consistent with the involvement of X–H bond-breaking events in the protodeauration turnover-limiting step.

Ligand-enabled oxidation of gold(i) complexes with o-quinones

Chelating P^P and hemilabile P^N ligands were found to trigger the oxidation of Au(i) complexes by o-benzoquinones. The ensuing Au(iii) catecholate complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. They adopt tetracoordinate square-planar structures. Reactivity studies substantiate the reversibility of the transformation. In particular, the addition of competing ligands such as chloride and alkenes gives back Au(i) complexes with concomitant release of the o-quinone. DFT calculations provide insight about the structure and relative stability of the Au(i) o-quinone and Au(iii) catecholate forms, and shed light on the 2-electron transfer from gold to the o-quinone.

Chelating P^P and hemilabile P^N ligands were found to trigger the oxidation of Au(i) complexes by o-benzoquinones.

Nucleophilic Addition to π-Allyl Gold(III) Complexes: Evidence for Direct and Undirect Paths

π-Allyl complexes play a prominent role in organometallic chemistry and have attracted considerable attention, in particular the π-allyl Pd(II) complexes which are key intermediates in the Tsuji-Trost allylic substitution reaction. Despite the huge interest in π-complexes of gold, π-allyl Au(III) complexes were only authenticated very recently. Herein, we report the reactivity of (P,C)-cyclometalated Au(III) π-allyl complexes toward β-diketo enolates. Behind an apparently trivial outcome, i.e. the formation of the corresponding allylation products, meticulous NMR studies combined with DFT calculations revealed a complex and rich mechanistic picture. Nucleophilic attack can occur at the central and terminal positions of the π-allyl as well as the metal itself. All paths are observed and are actually competitive, whereas addition to the terminal positions largely prevails for Pd(II). Auracyclobutanes and π-alkene Au(I) complexes were authenticated spectroscopically and crystallographically, and Au(III) σ-allyl complexes were unambiguously characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. Nucleophilic additions to the central position of the π-allyl and to gold are reversible. Over time, the auracyclobutanes and the Au(III) σ-allyl complexes evolve into the π-alkene Au(I) complexes and release the C-allylation products. The relevance of auracyclobutanes in gold-mediated cyclopropanation was demonstrated by inducing C-C coupling with iodine. The molecular orbitals of the π-allyl Au(III) complexes were analyzed in-depth, and the reaction profiles for the addition of β-diketo enolates were thoroughly studied by DFT. Special attention was devoted to the regioselectivity of the nucleophilic attack, but C-C coupling to give the allylation products was also considered to give a complete picture of the reaction progress.