Ligand exchange of tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite: a practical and efficient route to organo gold(i) complexes

Abstract

Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite (2,6-^tBu₂-PhO)₃P is used as a stable, easily displaceable ancillary ligand in the preparation of organo Au(I) complexes. The phosphite gold(I) precursors are bench-stable and readily accessible. They undergo high-yielding ligand exchange with a variety of ligands such as phosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes and bidentate ligands. This ligand exchange strategy overcomes the limitations associated with traditional gold halide-based synthetic routes and is compatible with different organogold fragments. The protocol is scalable, operationally simple and broadly applicable.