Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is an abundant feedstock for fuels and chemicals. However, methane gas is relatively difficult to store and transport. Direct, efficient conversion of methane into liquid chemicals would thus be useful. Unfortunately, the strong, sp3-hybridized C-H bonds in methane are difficult to selectively functionalize. Most methane conversion catalysts suffer from a lack of selectivity leading to overoxidation or from low turnover numbers and rates. While gold has shown a lot of potential for the selective functionalization of methane and other strong C-H bonds, gold(III) has not definitively been shown to either activate or functionalize strong, sp3-hybridized C-H bonds in high yields. As such, chelating ligands have been synthesized to facilitate these reactions by directing gold(III) toward strong, sp3-hybridized C-H bonds. Gold(III) complexes of these ligands have been synthesized, and preliminary C-H bond activation studies have begun.

Utilization of chelating ligands to direct gold(III) functionalization of strong, sp<sup>3</sup>-hybridized C-H bonds

245th National Meeting (2013)

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Utilization of chelating ligands to direct gold(III) functionalization of strong, sp3-hybridized C-H bonds

Utilization of chelating ligands to direct gold(III) functionalization of strong, sp³-hybridized C-H bonds