Gold and Rhodium Transmetalation: Mechanistic Insights and Dual-Metal Reactivity

On the mercuration, palladation, transmetalation and direct auration of a C^N^C pincer ligand

The C^N^C ligand 2,6-bis(2,3-dialkoxyphenyl)pyridine forms dimercury and orthopalladated complexes, both of which may be transmetallated to gold(III) complexes; the gold complexes may also be formed directly in a Rh(III)-catalysed process, hence it is possible to circumvent the use of organomercury intermediates in the synthesis of this important class of compound.

Competitive gold/nickel transmetalation

Transmetalation is a key method for the construction of element-element bonds. Here, we disclose the reactivity of [Ni^II(Ar)(I)(diphosphine)] compounds with arylgold(I) transmetalating agents, which is directly relevant to cross-coupling catalysis. Both aryl-for-iodide and unexpected aryl-for-aryl transmetalation are witnessed. Despite the strong driving force expected for Au-I bond formation, aryl scrambling can occur during transmetalation and may complicate the outcomes of attempted catalytic cross-coupling reactions.

RhI Ar/AuI Ar' Transmetalation: A Case of Group Exchange Pivoting on the Formation of M-M' Bonds through Oxidative Insertion

By combining kinetic experiments, theoretical calculations, and microkinetic modeling, we show that Pf/Rf (C₆ F₅ /C₆ Cl₂ F₃ ) exchange between [AuPf(AsPh₃ )] and trans-[RhRf(CO)(AsPh₃ )₂ ] does not occur by typical concerted Pf/Rf transmetalation via electron-deficient double bridges. Instead, it involves asymmetric oxidative insertion of the Rh^I complex into the (Ph₃ As)Au-Pf bond to produce a [(Ph₃ As)Au-RhPfRf(CO)(AsPh₃ )₂ ] intermediate, followed by isomerization and reductive elimination of [AuRf(AsPh₃ )]. Interesting differences were found between the LAu-Ar asymmetric oxidative insertion and the classical oxidative addition process of H₂ to Vaska complexes.

Hidden aryl-exchange processes in stable 16e RhIII [RhCp*Ar2] complexes, and their unexpected transmetalation mechanism

Experiments mixing the stable 16e 5-coordinate complexes [RhCp*Ar₂] (Cp* = C₅Me₅; Ar = C₆F₅, C₆F₃Cl₂-3,5) uncover fast aryl transmetalations. Unexpectedly, as supported computationally, these exchanges are not spontaneous, but catalyzed by minute amounts of 18e (μ-OH)₂[RhCp*Ar]₂ as a source of 16e [RhCp*Ar(OH)]. The OH group is an amazingly efficient bridging partner to diminish the activation barrier of transmetalation.

Alkyne Difunctionalization by Dual Gold/Photoredox Catalysis

Highly selective tandem nucleophilic addition/cross-coupling reactions of alkynes have been developed using visible-light-promoted dual gold/photoredox catalysis. The simultaneous oxidation of Au(I) and coordination of the coupling partner by photo-generated aryl radicals, and the use of catalytically inactive gold precatalysts allows for high levels of selectivity for the cross-coupled products without competing hydrofunctionalization or homocoupling. As demonstrated in representative arylative Meyer-Schuster and hydration reactions, this work expands the scope of dual gold/photoredox catalysis to the largest class of substrates for gold catalysts and benefits from the mild and environmentally attractive nature of visible-light activation.

Selectivity, Compatibility, Downstream Functionalization, and Silver Effect in the Gold and Palladium Dual-Catalytic Synthesis of Lactones

The chemo- and regioselectivity and functional group compatibility in gold and palladium cooperatively catalyzed cross-coupling reactions were determined in the synthesis of lactones; the selectivity in the gold and palladium dual-metal catalysis system was distinct from that available for the same class of substrates in systems with only gold catalysis or only palladium catalysis rather than dual catalysis. The dual-catalytic rearrangement reaction selectively promoted oxidative addition at the C-O bond over the C-Br bond, providing a useful C-Br bond handle for downstream functionalization showcased via Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira coupling reactions. Product classes were expanded from isocoumarins to three previously unpublished ring classes: pyrone, indolepyrone, and furopyrone.

Bimetallic catalysis using transition and Group 11 metals: an emerging tool for C-C coupling and other reactions

Bimetallic catalysis refers to homogeneous processes in which either two transition metals (TM), or one TM and one Group 11 (G11) element (occasionally Hg also), cooperate in a synthetic process (often a C-C coupling) and their actions are connected by a transmetalation step. This is an emerging research area that differs from the isolated or tandem applications of the now classic processes (Stille, Negishi, Suzuki, Hiyama, Heck). Most of the reactions used so far combine Pd with a second metal, often Cu or Au, but syntheses involving very different TM couples (e.g., Cr/Ni in the catalyzed vinylation of aldehydes) have also been developed. Further development of the topic will soon demand a good knowledge of the mechanisms involved in bimetallic catalysis, but this knowledge is very limited for catalytic processes. However, there is much information available, dispersed in the literature, coming from basic research on exchange reactions occurring out of any catalytic cycle, in polynuclear complexes. These are essentially the same processes expected to operate in the heart of the catalytic process. This Review gathers together these two usually isolated topics in order to stimulate synergy between the bimetallic research coming from more basic organometallic studies and the more synthetic organic approaches to this chemistry.

P-H activation using alkynylgold substrates: steric and electronic effects

The susceptibility of a prototypical hydrogen phosphonate to undergo P-H activation upon treatment with alkynylgold complexes has been studied. Dynamic solution behavior was observed during reactions involving triphenylphosphine ligated substrates and was attributed to rapid phosphine exchange between the alkynylgold starting material and the gold phosphonate product. The use of bulky biaryldialkylphosphine ligands eliminated the fluxional behavior, but did not significantly slow the rate of P-H activation. Similarly, changing the supporting ligand to an N-heterocyclic carbene did not significantly slow the rate of the reaction. Despite a number of reports outlining the functionalization of propargyl alcohols using gold catalysts, incorporating these groups into the architecture of the alkynylgold substrates did not alter the product distributions. Although the chemistry tolerated a range of supporting ligands, incorporating electron donating groups into the alkyne increased the rate of the reaction while electron-withdrawing groups slowed the reaction. A possible mechanism for the process includes a transition state containing significant pi-contribution from the alkyne. Due to the high yields of gold phosphonates obtained in this chemistry as well as the mild conditions of the reactions, the interception of intermediates/catalysts by substrates or ligands containing labile P-H donors is an issue that must be circumvented when designing or developing a gold catalyzed reaction that proceeds through alkynylgold intermediates.

Organogold reactivity with palladium, nickel, and rhodium: transmetalation, cross-coupling, and dual catalysis

Using two transition metals to simultaneously catalyze a reaction can offer distinct opportunities for reactivity and selectivity when compared to using single-metal catalyst systems. Creating dual transition metal catalytic systems is complicated, however, by challenges in predicting compatible reactivities and designing turnover pathways for both metals. In this Account, we describe our development of dual-metal catalysis reactions involving gold and a second transition metal. The unique rearrangement intermediates accessible through gold-only catalysis, which exploits the soft Lewis acidity of Au(I), make gold an attractive partner for dual-metal catalysis reactions. Because of the complexity of achieving simultaneous turnover of two catalysts and predicting compatibilities, our approach has been to first gain a fundamental understanding of the reactivity of the two metals with each other, both in stoichiometric and monocatalyzed reactions. To this end, we have investigated the combined reactivity of organogold compounds with palladium, nickel, and rhodium. We narrate the intricacies of turning over two catalysts simultaneously and thereby illuminate the valuable role of fundamental studies in identifying the optimal conditions to promote desirable two-metal reactivity and compatibility. Transmetalation, redox reactivity, and new mechanisms for dual-metal catalytic turnover were probed from this standpoint. We have applied the knowledge gained through these studies to the development of reactions that are dual-catalyzed by gold and palladium, as well as nickel- and rhodium-catalyzed reactions of organogold compounds. More broadly, these new reactions expand the reactivity available to catalytic organogold intermediates via trapping and functionalization reactions with other transition metals. Our investigations reveal strategies useful for designing dual-metal reactions with gold. First, the versatility of gold as a transmetalation partner suggests that many potential methods may exist to intercept catalytic organogold intermediates with a second transition metal. Second, ligands on both metals should be selected carefully in order to prevent catalyst deactivation. Finally, reactions must be designed such that any oxidative steps involving the second metal outcompete undesired reactions with redox-active organogold compounds. We believe that the application of these principles will allow for the design of a diverse set of dual-catalyzed functionalizations befitting the wide variety of gold-catalyzed transformations already established.