Although homogeneous gold catalysis was known previously, an exponential growth was only induced 12 years ago. The key findings which induce that rise of the field are discussed. This includes early reactions of allenes and furanynes and intermediates of these conversions as well as hydroarylation reactions. Other substrate types addressed are alkynyl epoxides and N-propargyl carboxamides. Important vinylgold intermediates, the transmetalation from gold to other transition metals, the development of new ligands for gold catalysis, and significant contributions from computational chemistry are other crucial points for the field highlighted here.

Gold-Catalyzed Organic Reactions

Gold salts and complexes have emerged in the past few years as the most powerful catalysts for electrophilic activation of alkynes toward a variety of nucleophiles under homogeneous conditions. In a simplified form, nucleophilic attack on the [AuL]-activated alkyne proceeds via π complexes 1 to give trans-alkenyl gold complexes of type 2 as intermediates (Scheme 1). This type of coordination is also a common theme in gold-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of enynes, in which the alkene function acts as the nucleophile. In the reaction of enynes with complexes of other transition metals, an Alder-ene cycloisomerization can take place by simultaneous coordination of the alkyne and the alkene to the metal followed by an oxidative cyclometalation. In contrast, this process does not occur for gold(I) since oxidative addition processes are not facile for this metal. 6 In addition, the [AuL] fragment, which is isolobal to H and HgL, adopts a linear coordination and binds to either the alkene or the alkyne. Thus, cycloisomerizations of enynes catalyzed by gold proceed by an initial coordination of the metal to the alkyne, and as illustrated in Scheme 2, the resulting complex 3 reacts with the alkene by either the 5-exo-dig or 6-endo-dig pathway to form the exoor endocyclopropyl gold carbene 4 or 5, respectively, as has been established with other electrophilic transition-metal complexes or halides MXn as catalysts. The proposed involvement of cyclopropyl metal carbenes of type 4 in the electrophilic activation of enynes by transition metals was first substantiated in reactions catalyzed by Pd(II), in which the initially formed cyclopropyl palladium carbenes undergo [4 + 2] cycloaddition with the double bond of the conjugate enyne. Strong evidence for the existence of cyclopropyl metal carbenes as intermediates was also obtained in the reaction of enynes bearing additional double bonds at the alkenyl chain with Ru(II) and Pt(II) catalysts. In these reactions, the cyclopropyl metal carbenes are trapped intramolecularly by the terminal alkene to give tetracycles containing two cyclopropanes. Gold(I) complexes usually surpass the reactivity shown by Pt(II) and other electrophilic metal salts and complexes for the activation of enynes. They are highly reactive yet uniquely selective Lewis acids that have a high affinity for π bonds. This high π-acidity is linked to relativistic effects, which reach a maximum in the periodic table with gold. However, on occasion, the stronger Lewis acidity of gold complexes can be detrimental in terms of selectivity and because of their low tolerance to certain functional groups. In these instances, the less-strongly Lewis acidic Pt(II) complexes could be the catalysts of choice. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: aechavarren@ iciq.es. † Additional affiliation: Departamento de Quı́mica Orgánica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain. Scheme 1 Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 3326–3350 3326

Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of enynes: a mechanistic perspective.

2.7. Hydroxylation Reactions of Allenes 3282 2.8. Hydroamination Reactions of Allenes 3284 2.9. Hydrothiolation of Allenes 3284 2.10. Hydroalxoxylation of Alkenes and 1,3-Dienes 3286 2.11. Hydroamination of Alkenes and 1,3-Dienes 3287 2.12. Hydrothiolation of Conjugated Olefins 3289 3. Activation of Carbonyl/Imine Groups and Alcohols 3289 3.1. Condensation Reactions 3289 3.2. Addition Reactions 3291 3.3. Aldol Reactions 3294 3.4. Hydroand Carbosilylation Reactions 3295 3.5. Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of Alcohols 3297 4. Gold-Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization 3297 4.1. Csp3-H Bond Functionalization 3298 4.2. Csp2-H Bond Functionalization 3299 4.3. Csp-H Bond Functionalization 3304 5. Gold-Catalyzed Selective Reductions 3305 5.1. Catalytic Hydrogenation of Alkenes 3306 5.2. Selective Reductions of R, -Unsaturated Carbonyl Groups and 1,3-Dienes 3306

Alternative synthetic methods through new developments in catalysis by gold.

A comprehensive overview in the field of homogeneous catalysis by gold is given and the basic principles are discussed. It is also highlighted where homogeneous gold catalysts are already superior to other catalysts and where future possibilities for advantageous use of homogeneous gold catalysts exist.

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Homogeneous catalysis by gold

Metal-catalyzed direct alkylations of (hetero)arenes via C–H bond cleavages with unactivated alkyl halides

For the reaction of α,β-unsaturated ketones with electron-rich arenes catalyzed by gold(III) chloride both, a Friedel–Crafts-type mechanism and an initial metallation, are evaluated. Gold(III) chloride has proven to be an efficient catalyst under very moderate reaction conditions, however, in the case of sterically demanding products HBF4 turned out to be the superior catalyst.

Gold(III) Chloride-Catalyzed Addition Reactions of Electron-Rich Arenes to Methyl Vinyl Ketone

Gold chloride and BF 3 . etherate were tested as Friedel-Crafts catalysts in the propargylation of electron-rich arenes: differences in reactivity of the catalysts can be used to achieve high selectivity either for monoalkylation or for multiple alkylation products. In the case of a macrocyclization towards a heterocalixarene, gold catalysts exhibited a pronounced selectivity, whereas p-toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst opened up a competing pathway to a structural isomer.

Alkylation of Arenes with Benzylic and Propargylic Alcohols – Classical versus Fancy Catalysts

A bisnaphthyl-substituted acenaphthylene is synthesized via two independent two-step procedures, Pd-catalyzed and classically with Grignard reagents. The subsequent dehydrocyclization stops after the first carbon-carbon bond formation, leading to an octacyclic π-system as the main product.

Enrico Muth

Papers

Gold(III) Chloride-Catalyzed Addition Reactions of Electron-Rich Arenes to Methyl Vinyl Ketone

Alkylation of Arenes with Benzylic and Propargylic Alcohols – Classical versus Fancy Catalysts

Palladium-catalyzed naphthylation of acenaphthylene

Hydrogenation and Dehydrogenation of Pentaphenylcyclopentadienes and Pentaphenylcyclopentenes

Gold(III) Chloride-Catalyzed Addition Reactions of Electron-Rich Arenes to Methyl Vinyl Ketone.