Boosting Gold(I) Catalysis via Weak Interactions: New Fine-Tunable Impy Ligands

A series of modular ImPy-carbene-Au(I) complexes are synthesized and fully characterized both in the solid state and in solution. The presence of oligoaryl units (phenyl and thienyl rings) at the C5-position of the ImPy core (in close proximity to the gold center) imprints on the organometallic species fine-tunable and predictable catalytic properties. A marked accelerating effect was recorded in several [Au(I)]-catalyzed electrophilic activations of unsaturated hydrocarbons when a CF3-containing aromatic ring was accommodated at the ImPy core.

Automated summary

A series of modular ImPy-carbene-Au(I) complexes were synthesized and characterized in both the solid state and solution. The incorporation of oligoaryl units at the C5-position of the ImPy core resulted in fine-tunable and predictable catalytic properties of the organometallic species. The presence of a CF3-containing aromatic ring at the ImPy core significantly accelerated several [Au(I)]-catalyzed electrophilic activations of unsaturated hydrocarbons.