New Water-Soluble Au(III) Complexes with Xyloside-Based Ligands: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, Solution Studies and Catalytic Evaluation

A short and convenient approach to the original xyloside-based ligands, has been achieved, using D-xylose as a starting material. The complexation properties of these ligands towards Au(III) cations were studied by different methods, such as multinuclear NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis. A preliminary study using protometric titrations has been carried out in aqueous solution under various pH conditions, thus in order to investigate the binding of Au(III) cations to these ligands. Furthermore, molecular calculations were performed to obtain additional structural information. The catalytic activity of the most stable Au(III) complexes was evaluated for the homogeneous reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH4.

Automated summary

A quick and convenient method was used to synthesize xyloside-based ligands using D-xylose as the starting material. The complexation properties of these ligands with Au(III) cations were studied using various techniques, including multinuclear NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Protometric titrations were conducted in aqueous solution at different pH conditions to investigate the binding of Au(III) cations to these ligands. Molecular calculations were also performed to obtain additional structural information. The catalytic activity of the most stable Au(III) complexes was evaluated for the homogeneous reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH4.