A Gold(I) Complex Based on 1,8-Naphthyridine Functionalized N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) and Its Catalytic Activity

A gold complex containing 2,7-bis(mesitylimidazolylidenyl)naphthyridine (NHC-NP) has been synthesized. Thus, reaction of {Ag-3(NHC-NP)(2)} (PF6)(3)] with [Au(Me2S)Cl] provided an unusual digold complex bridged by two NHC-NP, forming a 20-membered dinuclear metallacycle [{Au-2(NHC-NP)(2)Cl-2}-(PF6)(2)] (2) in high yield. This complex was characterized by spectroscopic and elemental analysis. This gold complex is active for the hydrolysis of 2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-methanol and can be recycled without losing the activity.