skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


This content will become publicly available on October 1, 2026

Title: Expanding tricoordinate Au(I) complexes for efficient carbofunctionalization of alkynes to benzo-fused N-heterocycles and imines
Gold-catalyzed activation of alkynes towards functional molecules remains an interesting endeavor with industrial potential, yet stable, efficient catalysts are needed. Here, we report a shelf-stable tricoordinate Au(I) catalyst for the cyclization of anilino-alkyne derivatives to form C2-substituted indoles and other benzo-fused Nheterocycles. We also report the use of this Au(I) catalyst for intermolecular hydroamination of ethynylbenzene and diphenylacetylene with various aniline derivatives, forming imines. The distorted geometry of Au(I) complexes facilitates alkyne activation and demonstrates functional group tolerance of the catalyst under mild conditions. We expand the scope of previously synthesized benzo-fused N-heterocycles and demonstrate potential for tricoordinate complexes in catalytic systems.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2203559
PAR ID:
10635353
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Elsevier
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Catalysis
Volume:
450
Issue:
C
ISSN:
0021-9517
Page Range / eLocation ID:
116317
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. The styryl dehydro-Diels–Alder reaction with a conjugated diyne is reported. While typical alkyne–styrene condensation requires elevated temperatures (>160 °C), the application of a conjugated diyne allowed for effective transformation under milder conditions (80 °C). The thermally stable triazole–gold (TA–Au) catalyst further improved the reaction yields (up to 95%), producing the desired alkynyl–naphthalene in a single step with molecular oxygen as the oxidant. Sequential alkyne activation resulted in various polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in excellent yields, highlighting the efficiency of this new strategy for the preparation of PAHs with good functional group tolerance and structural diversity. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract Stereoselective thioallylation of alkynes under possible gold redox catalysis was accomplished with high efficiency (as low as 0.1 % catalyst loading, up to 99 % yield) and broad substrate scope (various alkynes, inter‐ and intramolecular fashion). The gold(I) catalyst acts as both a π‐acid for alkyne activation and a redox catalyst for AuI/IIIcoupling, whereas the sulfonium cation generated in situ functions as a mild oxidant. This novel methodology provides an exciting system for gold redox catalysis without the need for a strong oxidant. 
    more » « less
  3. Generating a sustainable fuel from sunlight plays an important role in meeting the energy demands of the modern age. Herein we report two-coordinate carbene-metal-amide (cMa, M = Cu(I) and Au(I)) complexes can be used as sensitizers to promote the light driven reduction of water to hydrogen. The cMa complexes studied here absorb visible photons (vis > 103 M-1cm-1), maintain long excited state lifetimes (~ 0.2-1 s) and perform stable photo-induced charge transfer to a target substrate with high photoreducing potential (E+/* up to 2.33 V vs. Fc+/0 based on a Rehm-Weller analysis). We pair these coinage metal complexes with a cobalt-glyoxime electrocatalyst to photocatalytically generate hydrogen and compare the performance of the copper- and gold-based cMa complexes. We also find that these two-coordinate complexes presented can perform photo-driven hydrogen production from water without the addition of the cobalt-glyoxime electrocatalyst. In this “catalyst free” system the cMa sensitizer partially decomposes to give metal nanoparticles that catalyze water reduction. This work identifies two-coordinate coinage metal complexes as promising abundant metal, solar fuels photosensitizers that offer exceptional tunability and photoredox properties. 
    more » « less
  4. null (Ed.)
    Copper( i ) and silver( i ) pyrazolate complexes {[3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 Pz]Cu} 3 and {[3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 Pz]Ag} 3 have been synthesized using the fluorinated 3,5-(diaryl)pyrazole 3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 PzH and copper( i ) oxide and silver( i ) oxide, respectively. The gold( i ) analog was obtained from a reaction between Au(THT)Cl and [3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 Pz]H/NaH. The X-ray crystal structures show that the coinage metal complexes {[3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 Pz]M} 3 (M = Cu, Ag, Au) are trinuclear in the solid state. They feature distorted nine-membered M 3 N 6 metallacyclic cores. The M–N distances follow Cu < Au < Ag, which is the trend expected from covalent radii of the corresponding coinage metal ions. The 3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 PzH forms hydrogen bonded trimers in the solid state that are further organized by π-stacking between aryl rings. Solid samples of {[3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 Pz]M} 3 display blue photoluminescence. The copper complex {[3,5-(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 Ph) 2 Pz]Cu} 3 is an excellent catalyst for mediating azide–alkyne cycloaddition chemistry. 
    more » « less
  5. We report [Au(NHC)Cl] complexes featuring IPr# ligands that hinge upon modular peralkylation of aniline. Wingtip-flexible [Au(Np#)Cl] is a broadly applicable catalyst with the reactivity outperforming [Au(IPr)Cl] and [Au(IPr*)Cl] complexes. 
    more » « less