Abstract
1,3-Dimethylimidazolium-2-carboxylate is a convenient precursor for the in situ generation of N-heterocyclic carbene 1,3-dimethylimidazolylidene (MeNHC) in aprotic solvents and aerobic atmosphere. The MeNHC carbene readily reacts with [Au(tht)Cl], [Au(PPh3)Cl], and K[AuCl4], which are common starting compounds in gold organometallic chemistry, to generate [Au(MeNHC)Cl], [Au(MeNHC)2]+, and [Au(MeNHC)2Cl2]+ complexes, respectively. Interestingly, 1,3-dimethylimidazolium-2-carboxylate can react with metallic gold powder in the presence of CuI to generate [Au(MeNHC)2]+ cation. This methodology avoids the use of aggressive oxidizing agents, toxic chelating agents, or strongly acid or basic media commonly used in gold leaching processes. This reaction suggests the potential for developing more environmentally friendly methods for gold extraction in the future.
Published Version
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