Synthesis and Exploration of New Gold(III) Complexes

Abstract

The interest in organogold compounds has seen a great development during the last years. Gold(III) complexes are investigated as potential anti-cancer drugs and homogeneous catalysts for organic transformations. Nucleophilic additions to alkenes are of high practical value but also very challenging. Gold(III)-mediated methods for these reactions are underdeveloped, but alkyl gold(III) complexes are assumed to be important intermediates in the catalytic process. Here, the synthesis of a number of novel alkyl gold(III) complexes, that have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography, is presented. A DFT geometry optimization of the structure of one of the new alkyl gold(III) complexes and its isomers was performed to shed light on the stabilities of different isomers. Geometry optimization of the solid state structure was performed and a good agreement between the X ray and DFT structure was found. Some unexpected products were obtained and possible mechanisms regarding the formation were proposed and discussed.