Mononuclear gold catalysts for the asymmetric intramolecular hydroamination of alkenes

•The intramolecular gold catalysed asymmetric hydroamination of alkenes was studied.•A series of mononuclear gold(I) and (III) complexes was combined with silver salts.•The best catalysts arose from BINOL based phosphoramidite ligands.•The resulting gold(I) complexes were efficient catalysts at mild temperatures.•Good conversions and average enantioselectivities were obtained.

The intramolecular gold catalysed asymmetric hydroamination of alkenes was studied screening a series of mononuclear gold(I) and (III) complexes in combination with silver salts. Among the various chiral mono-phosphine and diaminocarbene ligands tried, the best catalysts arose from mononuclear gold(I) complexes synthesized from BINOL based phosphoramidite ligands. The latest were improved by addition of bulky substituents at specific positions of the BINOL scaffold. The resulting gold(I) complexes were combined with selected silver salts to afford efficient catalysts for intramolecular hydroamination of alkenes at mild temperatures, with good conversions and average enantioselectivities.

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