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1. Synthesis and characterization of Ag( i ) and Au( i ) complexes with macrocyclic hybrid amine N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

   https://doi.org/10.1039/C7NJ04020B  

   Lu, Taotao; Yang, Chu-Fan; Steren, Carlos A.; Fei, Fan; Chen, Xue-Tai; Xue, Zi-Ling (January 2018, New Journal of Chemistry)

   Four macrocyclic hybrid salts with different numbers of benzimidazolium and amine units, [H 2 L][PF 6 ] 2 (L = L 1 , L 2 , L 3 ) and [H 4 L 4 ][PF 6 ] 4 , have been employed as the heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors toward new Ag( i )– and Au( i )–NHC complexes. Three trinuclear and one tetranuclear Ag( i ) complexes 1–4 have been obtained from the reactions of the NHC precursors and Ag 2 O in acetonitrile. Four dinuclear Au( i )–NHC complexes 5–8 have been prepared by reacting the NHC precursors and AuCl(SMe 2 ) in the presence of NaOAc in DMF. The molecular structures of all the complexes are established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The metal ions in the Ag( i ) complexes 1–3 and the Au( i ) complexes 5–7 are coordinated with two macrocyclic NHC ligands to form a sandwiched structure. In contrast, a trinuclear Ag 3 core is located in the cavity of one macrocyclic ligand in [Ag 3 (L 4 )][PF 6 ] 3 ( 4 ). The photoluminescence properties of Au( i ) complexes 5–8 have also been investigated. 

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2. Cationic Complexes with Au→Ge Bonds – Synthesis and Carbophilic Reactivity

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ijch.202200036  

   Karimi, Mohammadjavad; Litle, Elishua; Gabbaï†, François P. (September 2022, Israel Journal of Chemistry)

   As part of our efforts to interface late transition metals with Lewis acidic main group fragments, we have decided to investigate gold complexes bearing halogermanes as Z-type ligands. Toward this end, we have synthesized complexes of general formula [(o-(Ph2P)C6H4)2(Ph)(X)GeAuCl] (X = F, Cl). Experimental and computational analyses indicate the presence of an Au→Ge interaction in both cases. Chloride abstraction reactions have also been investigated. In the case of X = Cl, double chloride abstraction with AgSbF6 affords a putative dication that gradually abstracts fluoride from its counterion. This putative dication is also significantly more active as a catalyst than its monocationic analog in alkyne hydroamination reactions. 

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3. Isolation and reactivity of a gold( i ) hydroxytrifluoroborate complex stabilized by anion-π ⁺ interactions

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC04105C  

   Zhou, Jiliang; Litle, Elishua D.; Gabbaï, François P. (October 2021, Chemical Communications)

   A 9,9-dimethylxanthene-based ligand substituted at the 4- and 5-positions by a phosphine and a xanthylium unit, respectively, has been prepared and converted into an AuCl complex, the structure of which reveals an intramolecular Au–Cl⋯π + interaction. This new ligand platform was also found to support the formation of an unprecedented hydroxytrifluoroborate derivative featuring a “hard/soft” mismatched Au– μ (OH)–BF 3 motif. Despite its surprising stability, this gold hydroxytrifluoroborate complex is a remarkably potent carbophilic catalyst which readily activates alkynes, without activator. 

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4. In silico screening of P , N -ligands facilitates optimization of Au( iii )-mediated S -arylation

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SC05920D  

   Treacy, Joseph W; Tilden, James_A R; Chao, Elaine Y; Fu, Zihuan; Spokoyny, Alexander M; Houk, K N; Maynard, Heather D (February 2025, Chemical Science)

   In silicoexamination of 13P,N-ligated Au(iii) OACs determined the key mechanistic factors governing Au(iii)-mediatedS-arylation. Three complexes were synthesized which exhibited bimolecular coordination rate constants as high as 20 200 M⁻¹s⁻¹. 

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5. Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling of Amides Using Well-Defined, Air- and Moisture-Stable Nickel/NHC (NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes

   https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040372  

   Buchspies, Jonathan; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Szostak, Michal (April 2020, Catalysts)

   In this Special Issue on N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and Their Complexes in Catalysis, we report the first example of Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of amides catalyzed by well-defined, air- and moisture-stable nickel/NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes. The selective amide bond N–C(O) activation is achieved by half-sandwich, cyclopentadienyl [CpNi(NHC)Cl] complexes. The following order of reactivity of NHC ligands has been found: IPr > IMes > IPaul ≈ IPr*. Both the neutral and the cationic complexes are efficient catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of amides. Kinetic studies demonstrate that the reactions are complete in < 1 h at 80 °C. Complete selectivity for the cleavage of exocyclic N-acyl bond has been observed under the experimental conditions. Given the utility of nickel catalysis in activating unreactive bonds, we believe that well-defined and bench-stable [CpNi(NHC)Cl] complexes will find broad application in amide bond and related cross-couplings of bench-stable acyl-electrophiles. 

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