C–H activation of acetone by 2-phenylazophenylgold(III) complexes; synthesis of the first acetonylgold(III) complex

Abstract

The complex [A[graphic ommitted]Ph)(CH₂COMe)Cl](1) can be obtained by the reaction of [A[graphic ommitted]Ph)Cl₂] with Tl(acac)(acacH = acetylacetone) in acetone at room temperature, and at 0 °C the intermediate[A([graphic ommitted]Ph)(acac)Cl](2) can be isolated; this and other reactions that lead to complex (1), which is the first acetonylgold(III) complex, are the first examples of alkyl C–H activation by a gold(III) complex.