Synthetic and Mechanistic Aspects of Gold(I) π-Activation Catalysis

Cationic gold(I) complexes have emerged over the past decade as powerful and versatile catalysts for the functionalization of C–C multiple bonds, owing in large part to the high electrophilicity and low oxophilicity of the twelve-electron (L)Au⁺ fragment which renders these complexes quite suitable for applications in complex molecular environments. This lecture will discuss our efforts directed toward the development of new gold(I)-catalyzed methods for the hydrofunctionalization of C=C bonds, which a focus on olefin hydroamination and also our efforts directed toward the synthesis and study of cationic gold(I) complexes relevant to gold(I) catalysis.