Organogold(III) iminophosphorane complexes as efficient catalysts in the addition of 2-methylfuran and electron-rich arenes to methyl vinyl ketone

Cycloaurated compounds containing C,N-pincer ligands have been evaluated as precatalysts in the addition reactions of 2-methylfuran and some electron-rich arenes to methyl vinyl ketone. All complexes have displayed a catalytic activity comparable to that reported for Au(I) complexes in the presence of silver salts. Compounds containing iminophosphorane ligands (R3PNR') as C,N-backbones such as [Au{kappa(2)-C,N-C6H4(PPh2N(C6H4X)-2}Cl-2] (X = H, 13; X = Me, 14) have been found to be the more effective in both the presence and absence of silver salts. With acid-sensitive electron-rich arenes the catalytic activity of these cycloaurated complexes outperformed that of the AuCl3 salt. The synthesis and characterization of new iminophosphorane coordination and organogold(III) compounds are provided along with the results for the catalytic studies.