Gold(I) complexes have become very important as catalyst for alkene and alkyne functionalization with wide applications in organic synthesis. We have recently prepared a new gold(I) complex containing a bisphosphine monoxide ligand of the type [Au(PPO)Cl] (PPO = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene monoxide), which showed moderate catalytic efficiency for the hydration and hydroamination of alkynes. Whereas the new gold(I) complex is a very active catalyst for the hydroarylation of ethylpropiolate. In order to understand the alkene and alkyne functionalization, it is important to study the coordination chemistry of substrate complexes in more detail. The information gained from structurally characterized alkene and alkyne gold(I) complexes help to rationalize selectivities of hydrofunctionalization reactions. The synthesis and characterization of a series of cationic gold(I) complexes of the type [Au(PPO)(alkene)]BF4 and [Au(PPO)(alkyne)]BF4 will be discussed.

Alkene and alkyne activation in a bisphosphine monoxide gold(I) complex

250th National Meeting (2015)

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