A New Gold Catalyst: Formation of Gold(I) Carbonyl, [Au(CO)n]+ (n = 1, 2), in Sulfuric Acid and Its Application to Carbonylation of Olefins

Abstract

A new gold catalyst, [Au(CO)n]+ (n = 1, 2), was synthesized by using a facile method from commercial gold(III) oxide, Au2O3, in concentrated H2SO4, which exhibits high catalytic activity for carbonylation of olefins. The gold monocarbonyl [Au(CO)]+ (1) and dicarbonyl [Au(CO)2]+ (2) cations coexist in H2SO4 solution, the former of which is much more stable than the latter. Both of the carbonyls show IR spectra of νCO (2194, 2208 cm-1) higher than that of free CO (2143 cm-1), indicating nonclassical (σ-only) gold−CO bonding. The gold carbonyl complexes coexisting in the concd H2SO4 solution exhibit a single resonance in the 13C NMR spectrum at 171 ppm at ambient temperature and pressure, reflecting rapid CO exchange between 1 (164 ppm) and 2 (175 ppm). The nonclassical gold(I) carbonyl solution worked as an excellent catalyst, with which olefins reacted with CO to give tert-carboxylic acids in good yields at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The gold(I) dicarbonyl cation 2 was found to function as ...