Catalytic hydrocarbon functionalization with gold complexes containing n-heterocyclic carbene ligands with pendant donor groups

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ejic.201101158

A series of silver and gold complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with a -CH₂CO₂Et pendant group attached to one N atom of the NHC ligand have been prepared. The catalytic properties of the gold complexes toward the decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate (N₂CHCO ₂Et) and the transfer of the carbene CHCO₂Et group to benzene and hexane have been investigated. A somewhat different reaction outcome has been found for this family of gold catalysts compared with the parent IPrAuCl catalyst. Gold-based catalysts containing NHC ligands with potentially coordinating pendant groups have been tested in the functionalization of Caspa2-H and Caspa3-H bonds by carbene insertion from ethyl diazoacetate, showing moderate catalytic activity.