Anatomy of gold catalysts: facts and myths

Abstract

This review article covers the main types of gold(i) complexes used as precatalysts under homogeneous conditions in organic synthesis and discusses the different ways of catalyst activation as well as ligand, silver, and anion effects.

Broad Scope Aminocyclization of Enynes with Cationic JohnPhos–Gold(I) Complex as the Catalyst

“…We decided to study the scope and limitations of the intermolecular amination of 1,6-enynes with a broader range of anilines using gold(I) complexes with JohnPhos and related bulky biphenyl-based phosphines (Buchwald ligands), which are often the catalysts of choice in gold(I)-catalyzed reactions. 14 …”

Polynuclear Gold [AuI]4, [AuI]8, and Bimetallic [AuI4AgI] Complexes: C−H Functionalization of Carbonyl Compounds and Homogeneous Carbonylation of Amines

“…Nanoparticles prepared by the procedure of Hutchison32 from different gold complexes, 1 , 3 , and 7 a , gave low yields of 8 b , even when relatively high catalyst loadings were used (entries 14–18). No urea was obtained with CuOAc, and also not with the gold(I) complexes [Au(tht)Cl], [AuCl(PPh 3 )], and [JohnPhosAu(NCMe)](SbF 6 )33 under the standard reaction conditions. …”

Gold(I)‐Catalysis for the Synthesis of Terpenoids: From Intramolecular Cascades to Intermolecular Cycloadditions

“…In most cases, the activation of neutral LAuCl complexes used as precatalysts is performed by the addition of a silver(I) salt to abstract the chloride ligand, which usually leads to active cationic [LAu(S)]X complexes,, where S is a solvent molecule or the substrate (i. e. alkyne or alkene). However, this chloride abstraction can also generate dinuclear chloride‐bridged species [LAuClAuL]X, which are relatively poor catalysts .…”