Multidonor ligands. 2. Room-temperature C(sp3)-H activation of 2-(alkylthio)pyridine by gold(III) complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om980747m

Na[AuCl₄] reacts with [py{SCH₂C(O)R}-2] (py-2 = 2-pyridyl) at room temperature to give cyclometalated alkylgold(III) complexes [AuCl₂{py{SCHC(O)R}-2}] [R = Ph (1a), Me (1b), OMe (1b)], which in turn react with NaBr or with PR′₃ in the presence of NaClO₄ to give [AuBr₂{py{SCHC(O)R}-2}] [R = Ph (2a), Me (2b)] or a mixture of SP4-3- and SP4-4-[AuCl-{py{SCHC(O)R}-2}(PPh₃)]ClO₄ [R = Ph (3a), Me (3b)]. This mixture of isomers converted to the isomer SP4-4 upon refluxing in chloroform. When the last reaction was made using P(C₆H₄OMe-4)₃, the main products were [AuCl{P(C₆H₄OMe-4)₃}] and [Hpy{SCH₂C(O)Ph}-2]ClO₄. The crystal structure of the latter has been determined.