Oxidative Addition of Alkenyl and Alkynyl Iodides to a AuI Complex

The first isolated examples of intermolecular oxidative addition of alkenyl and alkynyl iodides to Au-I are reported. Using a 5,5 '-difluoro-2,2 '-bipyridyl ligated complex, oxidative addition of geometrically defined alkenyl iodides occurs readily, reversibly and stereospecifically to give alkenyl-Au-III complexes. Conversely, reversible alkynyl iodide oxidative addition generates bimetallic complexes containing both Au-III and Au-I centers. Stoichiometric studies show that both new initiation modes can form the basis for the development of C-C bond forming cross-couplings.