Issue 16, 2018

Cyclometalated gold(iii) complexes: noticeable differences between (N,C) and (P,C) ligands in migratory insertion

Abstract

Gold(III) complexes are garnering increasing interest for opto-electronic, therapeutic and catalytic applications. But so far, very little is known about the factors controlling their reactivity and the very influence of the ancillary ligand. This article reports the first comprehensive study on this topic. The reactivity of a cationic (N,C) gold(III) complex, namely 1A, towards ethylene has been thoroughly studied and compared with that of the related (P,C) complex 1C. A cationic gold(III) complex 5A resulting from double insertion of ethylene was selectively obtained. Complex 5A was found to be remarkably stable. It was trapped with chloride and fully characterized. In marked contrast to that observed with 1C, no β-H elimination or linear-to-branched rearrangement of the alkyl chain occurred with 1A. The energy profile for the reactions of 1A with ethylene has been comprehensively investigated computationally, and the influence of the ancillary ligand has been precisely delineated. Because nitrogen is a weaker donor than carbon (and phosphorus), the (N,C) ligand is very electronically dissymmetric, much more than the (P,C) ligand. This makes the two reactive sites at gold quite different, which noticeably influences the competition between migratory insertion and β-H elimination, and actually changes the outcome of the olefin insertion at gold. This study provides valuable insight into the influence of ancillary ligands on gold(III) reactivity, something critical to further develop Au(III) and Au(I)/Au(III) catalysis.

Graphical abstract: Cyclometalated gold(iii) complexes: noticeable differences between (N,C) and (P,C) ligands in migratory insertion

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
14 Nov 2017
Accepted
21 Mar 2018
First published
26 Mar 2018
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 3932-3940

Cyclometalated gold(III) complexes: noticeable differences between (N,C) and (P,C) ligands in migratory insertion

J. Serra, P. Font, E. D. Sosa Carrizo, S. Mallet-Ladeira, S. Massou, T. Parella, K. Miqueu, A. Amgoune, X. Ribas and D. Bourissou, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 3932 DOI: 10.1039/C7SC04899H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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