Gold(I) carbenes by retro-buchner reaction: Generation and fate

Yahui Wang, Paul R. McGonigal, Bart Herlé, Maria Besora, Antonio M. Echavarren*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The fate of the aryl gold(I) carbenes generated by retro-Buchner reaction of ortho-substituted 7-aryl-1,3,5-cycloheptatrienes is dependent on the constitution of the ortho substituent. Indenes and fluorenes are obtained by intramolecular reaction of highly electrophilic gold(I) carbenes with alkenes and arenes. According to density functional theory calculations, the gold-catalyzed retro-Buchner process occurs stepwise, although the two carbon-carbon cleavages occur on a rather flat potential energy surface.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)801-809
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume136
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2014

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