Gold(I)-MIC Complexes as a Highly Effective Catalyst for the Cyanosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds Under Solvent-Free Condition

Herein, we report the gold(I)-MIC complexes (1-3), bearing mesoionic carbene (MIC) ligands were synthesized. The catalytic activities of these gold(I)-MIC complexes were found to be highly effective catalysts for cyanosilylation of various aldehydes under solvent-free conditions using TMSCN (trimethylsilyl cyanide). The cyano group transfer from TMSCN to aldehydes proceeds at room temperature in the presence of only 5 mol % of Au(I)-MIC catalysts (1-3), to produce value-added cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers in very good to excellent yields within 6 h, from various aldehydes through cyanosilylation process by using trimethylsilyl cyanide reagent at room temperature under solvent-free condition. These reaction conditions are extremely mild and simple and tolerate various functional groups.