Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity of a gold(i) complex containing 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene monoxide

Abstract

The gold(I) complex [Au(dppbO)Cl] was synthesized by reaction of Na[AuCl₄]·2H₂O with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (dppb) in the presence of water. This is a new method for the synthesis of a bisphosphine monoxide gold(I) complex. The new gold(I) complex was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analysis. In the solid state structure a relatively short contact between the oxygen atom of the phosphine oxide group and the gold center was observed. The catalytic activity of [Au(dppbO)Cl] was tested for three different intermolecular alkyne hydrofunctionalization reactions. Silver tetrafluoroborate was used as co-catalyst for halide abstraction. While the bisphosphine monoxide gold(I) complex showed moderate activity for the hydration of various alkynes and the hydroamination of phenyl acetylene, high activity was observed for the hydroarylation of ethylpropiolate. Electron-rich arenes add very fast to the C–C triple bond but with relatively low selectivity.