Gold catalysis with less fuss

Abstract

In an advance that simplifies gold redox catalysis, a research team led by A. Stephen K. Hashmi of Heidelberg University, in Germany, has discovered a means for carrying out visible-light-mediated reactions without the need for an auxiliary oxidant or a ruthenium or iridium photosensitizer. The additional reagents are typically needed to promote oxidation of gold(I) to gold(III) as part of the catalytic cycle. The Hashmi group determined that a phosphine gold(I) chloride catalyst can function as its own photosensitizer when irradiated with visible light. When paired with an aryldiazonium salt, the gold(I) species is oxidized to a gold(III) species that can complete the difunctionalization of alkynes to make α-aryl ketones (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201511487). What’s more, by using a P,N-bidentate ligand, the researchers were able to isolate and obtain the X-ray crystal structure of the gold(III) species (shown above). Chemists have debated whether gold(III) intermediates are involved