Synlett 2012(1): 46-48  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1290112
CLUSTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Cluster Preface: Gold Catalysis for Organic Synthesis: Opportunities Abound

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

Publication History

Received 17 November 2011
Publication Date:
13 December 2011 (online)

Abstract

In the past decade, the reactivity of homogeneous gold catalysts have been explored, developed and harnessed by organic chemists. Among other reactivities, gold complexes can act as mild π-acid catalysts, participate in backbonding to generate intermediates with unique reactivity, and promote oxidative coupling reactions. Modification and tuning of the ligands in these complexes can modify reactivity and result in highly selective reactions. This relatively young field is still developing and entirely new modes of ­reactivity are being discovered.

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Teles et al. reported the following order for ligand-dependent initial turnover frequencies: Ph3As < Et3P < Ph3P < (4-F-C6H4)3P < (MeO)3P < (PhO)3P(1500). Additionally, (in ref. 16) they report that ”carbenegold(I) complex proved to be 3.5 times more active than triphenylphosphanegold(I) chloride”

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Pradal, A.; Chen, Q.; Faudot dit Bel, P.; Toullec, P. A.; Michelet, V. Synlett 2011, DOI: 10 1055/s-0031-1289867.

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Núria, H.; Echavarren, A. M. Synlett 2011, DOI: 10 1055/s-0031-1289532.

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Davies, P. W.; Albrecht, S. J.-C. Synlett 2011, DOI: 10 1055/s-0031-1289866.

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Kojima, M.; Mikami, K. Synlett 2011, DOI: 10 1055/s-0031-1289875.