Triple the fun: tris(ferrocenyl)arene-based gold(i) complexes for redox-switchable catalysis.

ABSTRACT: The modular syntheses of C ₃-symmetric tris(ferrocenyl)arene-based tris-phosphanes and their homotrinuclear gold(i) complexes are reported. Choosing the arene core allows fine-tuning of the exact oxidation potentials and thus tailoring of the electrochemical response. The tris[chloridogold(i)] complexes were investigated in the catalytic ring-closing isomerisation of N-(2-propyn-1-yl)benzamide, showing cooperative behaviour vs. a mononuclear chloridogold(i) complex. Adding one, two, or three equivalents of 1,1'-diacetylferrocenium[tetrakis(perfluoro-tert-butoxy)aluminate] as an oxidant during the catalytic reaction (in situ) resulted in a distinct, stepwise influence on the resulting catalytic rates. Isolation of the oxidised species is possible, and using them as (pre-)catalysts (ex situ oxidation) confirmed the activity trend. Proving the intactness of the P-Au-Cl motif during oxidation, the tri-oxidised benzene-based complex has been structurally characterised.

SUBMITTER: Straube A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8162263 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature