Synthesis and Reactivity of Gold–Olefin Complexes

Gold catalysts have been used at an increasing frequency to facilitate a wide variety of organic transformations in synthetic organic chemistry. Among these, the functionalization of CC multiple bonds (alkenes or alkynes) in the presence of gold catalysts are some of the most important strategies utilized for the construction of CC, CO and CN bonds. A majority of these reactions are believed to proceed via gold-bound alkene (olefin) or alkyne intermediates. This chapter highlights some of the recent developments on the syntheses of gold-olefin complexes and their spectroscopic data and structural features. In addition, gold mediated inter- and intra-molecular nucleophilic addition reactions of nitrogen, oxygen or carbon nucleophiles to olefins are discussed. Reaction mechanisms of these nucleophilic addition reactions, in which goldolefin adducts have been proposed as intermediates, are also presented. Keywords: alkenes; gold; homogeneous catalysis; π-complexes; nucleophilic additions; reaction mechanisms; transition metals