Reactions of methylgold complexes with unsaturated reagents

Abstract

Both [AuMeL] and [AuMe₃L] react with SO₂ and with CF₃CCH to give [Au(SMeO₂)L], cis-[AuMe₂(SMeO₂)L], [Au(CCCF₃)L], and cis-[AuMe₂(CCCF₃)L] respectively (L = a tertiary phosphine ligand). The complexes [AuMeL] react with tetracyanoethylene (tcne) to give solvated complexes [AuMeL(tcne)] and with MeO₂CCCCO₂Me and C₂F₄ to give products of insertion into the methylgold bond. The complexes [AuMe₃L] are unreactive towards alkenes and non-terminal alkynes, and reasons for this are discussed.