Atropisomeric [(diphosphine)Au2Cl2] Complexes and their Catalytic Activity Towards Asymmetric Cycloisomerisation of 1,6‐Enynes

X‐ray crystal structures of two [(diphosphine)Au₂Cl₂] complexes (in which diphosphine=P‐Phos and xylyl‐P‐Phos; P‐Phos=[2,2′,6,6′‐Tetramethoxy‐4,4′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐3,3′‐bipyridine]) were determined and compared to the reported structures of similar atropisomeric gold complexes. Correlations between the Au???Au distances and torsional angles for the biaryl series of ligands (MeOBIPHEP, SEGPhos, and P‐Phos; BIPHEP=2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐biphenyl, SEGPhos=[(4,4′‐bi‐1,3‐benzodioxole)‐5,5′‐diyl]bis[diphenylphosphine]) can be made; these measurements appear to be very dependent upon the phosphorous substituent. Conversely, the same effect was not observed for ligands based on the binaphthyl (BINAP) series. The catalytic activity of these complexes was subsequently assessed in the enantioselective cycloisomerisation of 1,6‐enynes and revealed an over‐riding electronic effect: more‐electron‐rich phosphines promote greater enantioselectivity. The possibility of silver acting as a (co‐)catalyst was ruled out in these reactions.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Tandem Cycloisomerization of 1,5‐Enyne Ethers by Hydride Transfer

A novel gold‐catalyzed tandem protocol, initiated by hydride transfer in the presence of catalytic (C₆F₅)₃PAuCl/AgSbF₆, for the formation of fused polycyclic ring systems has been achieved. This tandem reaction provides rapid access to various fused polycyclic species in a single chemical operation, leading to stereospecific formation of two carbon–carbon bonds and three rings.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization and Diels–Alder Reaction of 1,4,9‐Dienyne Esters to 3 a,6‐Methanoisoindole Esters with Pro‐Inflammatory Cytokine Antagonist Activity

A synthetic method to prepare 3a,6‐methanoisoindole esters efficiently by gold(I)‐catalyzed tandem 1,2‐acyloxy migration/Nazarov cyclization followed by Diels–Alder reaction of 1,4,9‐dienyne esters is described. We also report the ability of one example to inhibit binding of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) to the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) site and TNF‐α‐induced nuclear factor κ‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) activation in cell at a half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 6.6 μM . Along with this is a study showing the isoindolyl derivative to exhibit low toxicity toward human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells and its possible mode of activity based on molecular modeling analysis.     

Di‐ and Trinuclear Gold Complexes of Diphenylphosphinoethyl‐Functionalised Imidazolium Salts and their N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties

Diphenylphosphinoethyl‐functionalised imidazolium salts and their silver–carbene complexes were used to synthesise a series of di‐ and trinuclear gold complexes through ligand exchange and transmetallation, respectively. Besides a few positively charged macrocyclic compounds with different anions (both with and without activation of the carbene function), we were able to obtain neutral polynuclear complexes by varying the gold precursor. The synthesised gold complexes show a variety of photophysical properties, including bright white photoluminescence at ambient temperature.     

Cationic,Two‐Coordinate Gold π Complexes

Cationic, two‐coordinate gold π complexes that contain a phosphine or N‐heterocyclic supporting ligand have attracted considerable attention recently owing to the potential relevance of these species as intermediates in the gold‐catalyzed functionalization of C? C multiple bonds. Although neutral two‐coordinate gold π complexes have been known for over 40 years, examples of the cationic two‐coordinate gold(I) π complexes germane to catalysis remained undocumented prior to 2006. This situation has changed dramatically in recent years and well‐defined examples of two‐coordinate, cationic gold π complexes containing alkene, alkyne, diene, allene, and enol ether ligands have been documented. This Minireview highlights this recent work with a focus on the structure, bonding, and ligand exchange behavior of these complexes.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerizations and Alkoxycyclizations of ortho‐(Alkynyl)styrenes

Indenes and related polycyclic structures have been efficiently synthesized by gold(I)‐catalyzed cycloisomerizations of appropriate ortho‐(alkynyl)styrenes. Disubstitution at the terminal position of the olefin was demonstrated to be essential to obtain products originating from a formal 5‐endo‐dig cyclization. Interestingly, a complete switch in the selectivity of the cyclization of o‐(alkynyl)‐α‐methylstyrenes from 6‐endo to 5‐endo was observed by adding an alcohol to the reaction media. This allowed the synthesis of interesting indenes bearing an all‐carbon quaternary center at C1. Moreover, dihydrobenzo[a]fluorenes can be obtained from substrates bearing a secondary alkyl group at the β‐position of the styrene moiety by a tandem cycloisomerization/1,2‐hydride migration process. In addition, diverse polycyclic compounds were obtained by an intramolecular gold‐catalyzed alkoxycyclization of o‐(alkynyl)styrenes bearing a nucleophile in their structure. Finally, the use of a chiral gold complex allowed access to elusive chiral 1H‐indenes in good enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis of (−)‐Cannabimovone and Structural Reassignment of Anhydrocannabimovone through Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization

The first total synthesis of cannabimovone from Cannabis sativa and anhydrocannabimovone was achieved by means of a highly stereoselective gold(I)‐catalyzed cycloisomerization. The results led to reassignment of the structure of anhydrocannabimovone.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Sequential Cyclization of 1‐En‐3,9‐Diyne Esters to Partially Hydrogenated 3H‐Dicyclopenta[a,b]naphthalenes

A synthetic method that relies on a gold(I)‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1‐en‐3,9‐diyne esters to spiro[4.4]non‐2‐ene‐substituted 1,2‐dihydronaphthalenes is described. Robust with a wide variety of substitution patterns tolerated, the reaction provides the first example of a one‐step strategy to construct such novel and architecturally challenging members of the carbocycle family in good to excellent yields. A mechanism is proposed in which the sequential cycloisomerization pathway was thought to involve a gold‐catalyzed 1,3‐acyloxy migration/Nazarov cyclization followed by a formal [4+2] cycloaddition to give the tetracarbocyclic product.     

Dual Gold Catalysis: σ,π‐Propyne Acetylide and Hydroxyl‐Bridged Digold Complexes as Easy‐To‐Prepare and Easy‐To‐Handle Precatalysts

A series of dinuclear gold σ,π‐propyne acetylide complexes were prepared and tested for their catalytic ability in dual gold catalysis that was based on the reaction of an electrophilic π‐complex of gold with a gold acetylide. The air‐stable and storable catalysts can be isolated as silver‐free catalysts in their activated form. These dual catalysts allow a fast initiation phase for the dual catalytic cycles without the need for additional additives for acetylide formation. Because propyne serves as a throw‐away ligand, no traces of the precatalyst are generated. Based on the fast initiation process, side products are minimized and reaction rates are higher for these catalysts. A series of test reactions were used to demonstrate the general applicability of these catalysts. Lower catalyst loadings, faster reaction rates, and better selectivity, combined with the practicability of these catalysts, make them ideal catalysts for dual gold catalysis.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Multicomponent Reactions: Access to α‐Silyl‐β‐Hydroxy Vinylsilanes,Stereodefined 1,3‐Dienes,and Cyclohexenes

The synthesis of densly functionized α‐silyl‐β‐hydroxyl vinylsilanes via ruthenium‐catalyzed multicomponent reaction (MCR) is reported herein. Exceptionally high regio‐ and diastereoselectivity was achieved by employing an unprecedented hydrosilylation of bifunctional silyl‐propargyl boronates. The simple protocol, mild reaction conditions, and unique tolerability of this method make it a valuable tool for the synthesis of highly elaborated building blocks. The one‐pot synthesis of stereodefined olefins, the generation of a valuable cyclohexene building block through a four‐component MCR, and further functionalization in an abundance of diastereoselective reactions is disclosed herein.     

Structures and Dynamic Solution Behavior of Cationic,Two‐Coordinate Gold(I)–π‐Allene Complexes

A family of seven cationic gold complexes that contain both an alkyl substituted π‐allene ligand and an electron‐rich, sterically hindered supporting ligand was isolated in >90 % yield and characterized by spectroscopy and, in three cases, by X‐ray crystallography. Solution‐phase and solid‐state analysis of these complexes established preferential binding of gold to the less substituted C?C bond of the allene and to the allene π face trans to the substituent on the uncomplexed allenyl C?C bond. Kinetic analysis of intermolecular allene exchange established two‐term rate laws of the form rate=k₁[complex]+k₂[complex][allene] consistent with allene‐independent and allene‐dependent exchange pathways with energy barriers of ΔG^≠₁=17.4–18.8 and ΔG^≠₂=15.2–17.6 kcal mol^?1, respectively. Variable temperature (VT) NMR analysis revealed fluxional behavior consistent with facile (ΔG^≠=8.9–11.4 kcal mol^?1) intramolecular exchange of the allene π faces through η¹‐allene transition states and/or intermediates that retain a staggered arrangement of the allene substituents. VT NMR/spin saturation transfer analysis of [{P(tBu)₂o‐binaphthyl}Au(η²‐4,5‐nonadiene) ]⁺SbF₆^? ( 5 ), which contains elements of chirality in both the phosphine and allene ligands, revealed no epimerization of the allene ligand below the threshold for intermolecular allene exchange (ΔG^≠_298K=17.4 kcal mol^?1), which ruled out the participation of a η¹‐allylic cation species in the low‐energy π‐face exchange process for this complex.     

Surface‐Passivated SBA‐15‐Supported Gold Nanoparticles: Highly Improved Catalytic Activity and Selectivity toward Hydrophobic Substrates

Silanol groups on a silica surface affect the activity of immobilized catalysts because they can influence the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, matter transfer, or even transition state in a catalytic reaction. Previously, these silanol groups have usually been passivated by using surface‐passivation reagents, such as alkoxysilanes, bis‐silylamine reagents, chlorosilanes, etc., and surface passivation has typically been found in mesoporous‐silicas‐supported molecular catalysts and heteroatomic catalysts. However, this property has rarely been reported in mesoporous‐silicas‐supported metal‐nanoparticle catalysts. Herein, we prepared an almost‐superhydrophobic SBA‐15‐supported gold‐nanoparticle catalyst by using surface passivation, in which the catalytic activity increased more than 14 times for the reduction of nitrobenzene compared with non‐passivated SBA‐15. In addition, this catalyst can selectively catalyze hydrophobic molecules under our experimental conditions, owing to its high (almost superhydrophobic) hydrophobic properties.