Direct formation of Au(iii) acetyl, alkoxyl and alkynyl functionalities via halide free tricationic Au(iii) precursors

Abstract

A novel synthetic approach for the synthesis of gold(III) acetato, alkoxolato and alkynyl complexes was developed via the reactivity of gold(III) trications containing the N,N-chelating ligand 2,2′-bipyridine and N,N,N-chelating ligand terpyridine through direct reactions with the protic precursors. This protocol avoids the gold(III) chloride bond activation pathway commonly employed to access these functionalities. For example exposure of [LAu(III)L′]OTf₃ (L = N,N,N-terpyridine, L′ = 4-DMAP) to RH (R = OCH₃, OAc, Ph-) results in the facile formation of the corresponding functionalised gold(III) complexes [LAu(III)R]OTf₂.