Computational studies on the mechanism of the gold(I)-catalysed rearrangement of cyclopropenes

Density functional theory calculations have been employed to investigate the mechanism of gold(I)-catalysed rearrangements of cyclopropenes. Product formation is controlled by the initial ring-opening step which results in the formation of a gold-stabilised carbocation/gold carbene intermediate. With 3-phenylcyclopropene-3-methylcarboxylate, the preferred intermediate allows cyclisation via nucleophilic attack of the carbonyl group and hence butenolide formation. Further calculations on simple model systems show that substituent effects can be rationalised by the charge distribution in the ring-opening transition state and, in particular, a loss of negative charge at what becomes the β-position of the intermediate. With 1-C(3)H(3)R cyclopropenes (R = Me, vinyl, Ph), ring-opening therefore places the substituent at the β-position.     

Ligand effects and ligand design in homogeneous gold(I) catalysis

Gold catalysis is considered one of the most important breakthroughs in organic synthesis during the past decade, but a rational understanding of ligand effects in gold catalysis is lacking. Most gold-catalyzed reactions go through three major stages: (i) electronic activation of alkyne (or allene) to generate a vinyl gold intermediate; (ii) protodeauration to generate the product and regenerate the cationic gold catalyst; (iii) decay of the active gold catalyst. Our research provides a clearer understanding of how ligands influence each of the three stages in the gold catalytic cycle. What is even more important, by not focusing on a particular gold-catalyzed reaction, we have been able to categorize most gold-catalyzed reactions and propose a ligand design protocol for each category of gold-catalyzed reactions.     

Seed free high yield gold nanorods synthesis from single precursor gold(I) dithiophosphate complex

In this work, we demonstrate a simple, one pot and seed free synthetic route for the formation of gold nanorods (Au NRs) via thermal decomposition of gold(I) dithiophosphate {[Au₂{S₂P(OⁱPr)₂}₂]_n,} 1 complex as a molecular precursor in presence of 4′‐amino‐biphenyl‐4‐carboxylic molecule. Here [Au₂{S₂P(OⁱPr)₂}₂]_n, complex functioned as gold (Au) source and 4′‐amino‐biphenyl‐4‐carboxylic molecule stabilized gold (Au) nanorods (NRs) through the unidirectional coating of Au surface during its growth in the reaction medium.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed propargyl Claisen rearrangement

Homoallenic alcohols are prepared from propargyl vinyl ethers using a trinuclear gold(I)-oxo complex, [(Ph3PAu)3O]BF4, as a catalyst for propargyl Claisen rearrangement at room temperature. The gold(I)-catalyzed reaction is effective for a diverse collection of propargyl vinyl ethers, including substrates containing aryl and alkyl groups at the propargylic position, and hydrogen, aryl, and alkyl substituents at the alkyne terminus. Tertiary propargyl vinyl ethers can be employed in the reaction, at slightly elevated temperatures, to afford tetrasubstituted allenes. Importantly, the rearrangement of 1,2-disubstituted vinyl ethers proceeds with excellent diastereoselectivity, and the rearrangement of chiral nonracemic propargyl vinyl ethers proceeds with excellent chirality transfer to furnish enantioenriched allenes.     

Reactions of Cationic Gold(I) with Allenoates: Synthesis of Stable Organogold(I) Complexes and Mechanistic Investigations on Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclizations

The reaction of allenoates with cationic gold(I)—generated in situ from a phosphine gold chloride and a silver salt—formed unusual, room temperature stable vinyl gold(I) lactones under very mild conditions. The scope and limitations for the synthesis of this novel organogold complex was investigated. DFT calculations on the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) of allenoates and the natural bond orbital (NBO) charge densities provided an explanation for the limitations. A plausible mechanism for its formation was proposed based on in situ ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopic analyses. Controlled experiments for the cleavage of the gold–carbon bond by electrophiles indicated that this vinyl gold(I) complex is the likely intermediate in the gold‐catalyzed reaction of carbon–carbon multiple bonds.     

Crosslinking of poly(vinyl alcohol) using functionalized gold nanoparticles

We report on the preparation of a new class of polymer hydrogels obtained through the chemical crosslinking reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and functionalized gold nanoparticles. Carboxylic group functionalized gold nanoparticles were synthesized, dispersed in a PVA matrix and allow to react with the hydroxyl groups of PVA at high temperature. FT-IR and swelling experiments carried out on the cross-linked samples confirmed that the crosslinking reaction took place. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that functionalized nanoparticles are used as chemical crosslinking agents.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed stereoselective olefin cyclopropanation

A triphenylphosphinegold(I)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of olefins using propargyl esters as gold(I)-carbene precursors is reported. This reaction provided the basis for the use of a DTBM-SEGPHOS gold(I) complex as a catalyst in the enantioselective (up to 94% ee) preparation of vinyl cyclopropanes with high cis-selectivity.     

Characterization of the Isochromen-4-yl-gold(I) Intermediate in the Gold(I)-Catalyzed Glycosidation of Glycosyl ortho-Alkynylbenzoates and Enhancement of the Catalytic Efficiency Thereof

Gold standard: The title gold complex was characterized unambiguously as an important intermediate in the title reaction. Protonolysis of this vinyl gold(I) complex was critical for regeneration of the active gold(I) species for the catalytic cycle, and use of a protic acid co-catalyst significantly lowered the required catalyst loading to 0.5?mol?%.     

Association behavior of a nitrilotriacetic-acid-modified dye in a poly(vinyl alcohol) film containing Ni(II)-adsorbed gold nanoparticles.

The association behavior of the dyes 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-modified 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (F-NTA) in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) film and in a PVA film containing metal nanoparticles is investigated. Well-dispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNps) and Ni(II)-adsorbed AuNps are formed in the PVA film using in situ photochemical fabrication method. 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and F-NTA are doped into the films. The F-NTA forms an H-aggregate in the PVA film containing Ni(II)-adsorbed AuNps. It is suggested that the interaction between NTA and Ni(II) adsorbed on the AuNps promotes the formation of the H-aggregate.     

A multipurpose gold(I) precatalyst

[Au(tmbn)(2)](SbF(6)) is the first gold(I) complex supported by two nitrile ligands that is indefinitely stable at room temperature. This is a highly versatile precatalyst that can be used for the preparation of active and robust solid-supported gold(I) catalysts.     

Amine-amide equilibrium in gold(III) complexes and a gold(III)-gold(I) aurophilic bond

The ligands HN(CH2-2-C5H4N)2, BPMA, and PhCH2N(CH2-2-C5H4N)2, BBPMA, react with Na[AuCl4] to give the cationic complexes [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ and [AuCl(BBPMA)]2+, respectively. The amido complex [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ undergoes easy inversion at the amido nitrogen atom and can be reversibly protonated by triflic acid to give [AuCl(BPMA)]2+. The complex [AuCl(BBPMA)]2+ is easily decomposed in aqueous solution by cleavage of a carbon-nitrogen bond or, in dilute HCl solution, by protonation of the ligand to give [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl4] The complexes [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl4] and [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl2] can be formed by direct reaction of BBPMA with H[AuCl4]. Unusual forms of gold(III)...gold(III) and gold(III)...gold(I) aurophilic bonding are observed in the salts [AuCl(BPMA-H)][PF6] and [AuCl(BPMA-H)][AuCl2], respectively. The first comparison of the structures of gold(III) amine and amido complexes, in the cations [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ and [AuCl(BPMA)]2+, indicates that there is little ppi-dpi bonding in the amido-gold bond and that the amide exerts a stronger trans influence than the amine group.     

Syntheses of mixed-ligand tetranuclear gold(I)-nitrogen clusters by ligand exchange reactions with the dinuclear gold(I) formamidinate complex Au(2)(2,6-Me2Ph-form)2

The reaction of the sterically crowded dinuclear gold(I) amidinate complex Au2(2,6-Me2Ph-form)2, 1, with the less bulky bidentate nitrogen ligands results in the formation of tetranuclear gold(I) complexes. When the less bulky amidinate, K(4-MePh-form), A, was reacted with 1 in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio, crystals containing equal amounts of the tetranuclear and dinuclear gold(I) aryl formamidinates, Au4(4-MePh-form)4 and Au2(2,6-Me2Ph-form)2, where 2,6-Me2Ph-form = B, were found in the same unit cell, 2 x 2THF: space group P, a = 10.794(11) A, b = 14.392(15) A, c = 25.75(3) A, alpha = 82.564(17) degrees, beta = 85.443(18) degrees, gamma = 82.614(19) degrees. The reaction of K(4-MePh-form), A, and 1 in a 1:2 ratio (excess) produced the tetranuclear complex only, 3. The potassium salt of the exchanged bulky ligand, K(2,6-Me2Ph-form), formed as a byproduct. The reaction of the dinuclear gold(I) complex Au2(2,6-Me2Ph-form)2 with the 3,5-diphenylpyrazolate salt, K(3,5-Ph2pz), resulted in the formation of two tetranuclear mixed-ligand complexes, Au4(3,5-Ph2pz)2(2,6-Me2Ph-form)2 x 2THF, 4 x 2THF (space group P21/c, a = 11.5747(19) A, b = 25.497(4) A, c = 21.221(3) A, beta = 96.979(3) degrees) and Au4(3,5-Ph2pz)3(2,6-Me2Ph-form) x THF, 5 x THF (space group P21/c, a = 23.058(5) A, b = 14.314(3) A, c = 18.528(4) A, beta = 90.94(3) degrees. The block crystals from the tetranuclear complex, 4 x 2THF, contain mixed ligands with each pyrazolate ring facing an amidinate ring. The tetranuclear mixed ligand complex, 5 x THF, was isolated as needles with ligands alternating above and below the Au4 plane. The two tetranuclear mixed-ligand complexes emit at 490 and 530 nm, respectively, under UV excitation.     

Selenolate gold complexes with aurophilic Au(I)-Au(I) and Au(I)-Au(III) interactions

The gold(I) selenolate compound [Au(2)(SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)] (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) has been prepared by reaction of [Au(2)Cl(2)(mu-dppf)] with PhSeSiMe(3) in a molar ratio 1:2. This complex reacts with gold(I) or gold(III) derivatives to give polynuclear gold(I)-gold(I) or gold(I)-gold(III) complexes of the type [Au(4)(mu-SePh)(2)(PPh(3))(2)(mu-dppf)](OTf)(2), [Au(3)(C(6)F(5))(3)(mu-SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)], or [Au(4)(C(6)F(5))(6)(mu-SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)], with bridging selenolate ligands. The reaction of [Au(2)(SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)] with 1 equiv of AgOTf leads to the formation of the insoluble Ag(SePh) and the compound [Au(2)(mu-SePh)(mu-dppf)]OTf. The complexes [Au(4)(C(6)F(5))(6)(mu-SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)] and [Au(2)(mu-SePh)(mu-dppf)]OTf (two different solvates) have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies and show the presence of weak gold(I)-gold(III) interactions in the former and intra- and intermolecular gold(I)-gold(I) inter-actions in the later.     

Formation of palladium(II) complex with triarylphosphine ligand on the surface of gold electrode modified with di(11-hydroxyundecyl)disulfide. Cyclic voltammetry study

Using the method of cyclic voltammetry the possibility of formation of the Pd(II) complex with triarylphosphine ligand on the gold electrode surface is shown resulting from the following sequence of reactions: (1) formation of the self-organized monolayer (SOM) of di(11-mercaptoundecyl)disulfide on the Au surface; (2) esterification of terminal hydroxy groups of the formed SOM with diphenyl(p-carboxyphenyl) phosphine; (3) formation of the complex compound fixed on the surface by treatment of the modified electrode with solution of PdCl₂ in CH₃CN. The possibility of electrocatalytic reduction of iodobenzene on the gold electrode with participation of the obtained Pd(II) complex is demonstrated.     

Cyclization of nonterminal alkynic beta-keto esters catalyzed by gold(I) complex with a semihollow, end-capped triethynylphosphine ligand

A cationic gold(I) complex with a semihollow-shaped trialkynylphosphine catalyzed 5-exo-dig and 6-endo-dig cyclizations of various internal alkynic beta-keto esters, showing a marked advantage over a gold(I)-PPh3 complex with respect to the rates of the reactions and the product yields. It is proposed that the gold-bound alkynic substrate in a catalytic pocket must be somewhat folded and that such a steric effect makes the carbon-carbon bond formation entropically more favorable.     

Nanocomposite membranes containing positively polarized gold nanoparticles for facilitated olefin transport

Positively polarized gold nanoparticles have been demonstrated for use as stable olefin carriers for facilitated olefin transport membranes. The formation and size of gold nanoparticles stabilized by 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) were monitored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–visible spectroscopy. Nanocomposite membranes that deliver high separation performance for olefin/paraffin mixtures were prepared by dispersing gold nanoparticles stabilized by DMAP in a polymer matrix, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential measurements revealed that gold nanoparticles stabilized by DMAP exhibited a high positive polarity, which is responsible for the reversible interaction between the gold nanoparticles and olefin molecules. Compared to neat PVP membranes, the composite membranes consisting of PVP and the polarized gold nanoparticles showed stable and enhanced separation of olefin/paraffin mixtures.     

Decarboxylation of aromatic carboxylic acids by gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes

A recently isolated gold(I) complex, [Au(IPr)(OH)], permits the transformation of carboxylic acids to the corresponding decarboxylated gold(I)-aryl complex without the use of silver co-catalyst under mild reaction conditions.     

Interfacial supramolecular self-assembled monolayers of C(60) by thiolated beta-cyclodextrin on gold surfaces via monoanionic C(60)

The supramolecular self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of C(60) by thiolated beta-cyclodextrin (CD) on gold surfaces were constructed for the first time using C(60) monoanion. The results indicate that monoanionic C(60) plays a crucial role in the formation of the C(60)-containing self-assembled monolayers. The generation of C(60) monoanion and the formation process of C(60) SAMs were monitored in-situ by UV-visible and near-IR spectroscopy. The resulting C(60) SAMs were fully characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and water contact angle measurements. After the immobilization of C(60) by the SAMs of thiolated beta-CD, the film thickness increased by approximately 1 nm from 0.8 to 1.8 nm as determined by SE, demonstrating the formation of the supramolecular self-assembled monolayers of thiolated beta-CD/C(60). The new C(60) SAMs exhibited one quasi-reversible redox couple at half wave potential of -0.57 V vs SCE in aqueous solution containing 0.1 M KCl. The surface coverage of C(60) on the gold surfaces was estimated to be 1.1 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2). The XPS showed the assembly of C(60) over the thiolated beta-CD SAMs. The surface hydrophobicity increased greatly upon the formation of the C(60)-containing SAMs as analyzed by water contact angle measurements. The results are in agreement with the formation of 1:1 complex of C(60) and cyclodextrin on gold surfaces, though it also reveals some non-homogeneous features of the monolayers.     

Isolable tris(alkyne) and bis(alkyne) complexes of gold(I)

Golden trefoils: Tris(alkyne)gold complex [(coct)(3)Au][SbF(6)] (see picture; 1-SbF(6)) can be synthesized from cyclooctyne (coct) and AuSbF(6) generated in situ. Treatment of AuCl with cyclooctyne led to the bis(alkyne)gold complex [Au(coct)(2)Cl] (2). DFT analysis indicates that the cyclooctyne ligands are net electron donors in 1 but overall electron acceptors in 2. AuSbF(6) is shown to mediate [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of alkynes.     

Thermolysis of gold(I) thiolate complexes producing novel gold nanoparticles passivated by alkyl groups

Thermolysis of gold(I) thiolate complex, [C14H29(CH3)3N][Au(SC12H25)2], at 180 degrees C for 5 h under an N2 atmosphere produces novel gold nanoparticles passivated by alkyl groups derived from the precursor complex, the TEM image of which shows spherical particles with average diameter 26 nm.