Gold compounds as efficient co-catalysts in palladium-catalysed alkynylation

A series of inorganic and organometallic compounds of gold [AuCl(tht)], [Au(C6F5)(tht)] and Na[AuCl4] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) are shown to efficiently co-catalyze the Sonogashira-type cross-coupling reaction of phenylacetylene with aryl halides in THF solution. [AuCl(tppts)] (tppts = trisodium salt of tris(m-sulfonatophenyl)phosphine) co-catalyzes the same reaction in biphasic aqueous systems. Gold compounds are thus revealed as efficient transmetalation catalysts to palladium.

Gold compounds activate alkynes for palladium coupling reactions acting as efficient co-calalysts in Sonogashira reaction in THF and water.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide