Synlett 2010(5): 675-691  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219369
ACCOUNT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

A Reactivity-Driven Approach to the Discovery and Development of Gold-Catalyzed Organic Reactions

Nathan D. Shapiro, F. Dean Toste*
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
Fax: +1(510)6662504; e-Mail: fdtoste@berkeley.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 December 2009
Publication Date:
08 February 2010 (online)

Abstract

Approaches to research in organic chemistry are as numerous as the reactions they describe. In this account, we describe our reactivity-based approach. Using our work in the area of gold catalysis as a background, we discuss how a focus on reaction mechanism and reactivity paradigms can lead to the rapid discovery of new synthetic tools.

1 Introduction

2 Addition Reactions

2.1 Conia-Ene Reaction

2.2 Asymmetric Hydroamination

2.3 Chiral Counteranions

2.4 Exploiting Basic Counteranions

2.5 Ring Expansion Reactions

2.6 Intramolecular Carboalkoxylation

2.7 Rationalizing the π-Acidity of Cationic Gold(I) Complexes

3 Reactions Involving Carbenoid Intermediates

3.1 1,5-Enyne Cycloisomerization

3.2 Intramolecular Addition of Dipolar Nucleophiles to Alkynes

3.3 Stereospecific Cyclopropanation

3.4 Gold-Carbon Bonding in Cationic Intermediates and Relativistic Effects

3.5 A Bonding Model for Gold(I)-Carbene Complexes

4 Further Insights into Reactivity from Gold-Catalyzed ­Cycloisomerization Reactions

4.1 Intramolecular Rearrangements of 1,5-Enynes

4.2 Ligand- and Substrate-Controlled Access to [2+2], [3+2], [4+2], and [4+3] Cycloadditions in Gold-Catalyzed Reactions of Allene-Enes

5 Intermolecular Annulation Reactions

5.1 A [4+3] Annulation Approach to Azepines

5.2 Orbital Considerations in [3+3] Annulations

6 Tandem Reactions

7 Conclusions