Synthesis and characterization of novel chiral [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] complexes: Featuring ortho-biphenyl substituents

•Nine novel chiral [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] complexes are synthesized and characterized.•X-ray structure analysis was performed for two gold complexes.•Large percent buried volumes are calculated for the two complexes.•The new chiral [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] complexes feature pairs of o-biphenyl substituents.•The rotational barriers determined for the biphenyl C–C bond rotation in these complexes are greater than usual.

A series of new chiral [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] are synthesized. The chiral NHC ligands feature pairs of ortho-biphenyl groups. The distal phenyl groups of the biphenyl substituents are varied from simple phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, to 3,5-di-t-butylphenyl. X-Ray structure analysis were performed for two such [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] complexes. High percent buried volumes were calculated for two novel chiral [(NHC)Au(I)Cl]complexes whose structure were solved by an X-ray analysis. The rotational motion in the biphenyl group is slow on the NMR time scale. Rotational barriers were determined using WINDNMR for two of the chiral gold complexes.

Graphical abstractNine novel chiral [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] complexes are synthesized and characterized. The new chiral [(NHC)Au(I)Cl] complexes feature pairs of o-biphenyl substituents. The rotational barriers determined for the biphenyl C–C bond rotation in these complexes are greater than usual.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide