Development of new gold(I) catalysts for novel intermolecular cycloadditions of alkynes with alkenes

• Applicant: Dr. Hanna Bruss
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2015 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 287100177

This research proposal aims at advancing the field of gold chemistry by developing new types of gold(I) catalysts. Integration of a boronate acceptor ligand into gold complexes is expected to increase the electrophilicity of the metal center towards the activation of alkynes through a dative Au-B interaction. Such catalysts shall be applied for novel intermolecular cycloadditions of alkynes with alkenes. These transformations are designed based on the mechanistic knowledge of well-established reactions. The major goal is to build up molecular complexity using simple starting materials. In this context it is furthermore desired to design new chiral gold(I) complexes in order to render these transformations enantioselective. The basic idea is to incorporate C2-symmetric chiral ligands on the borane in such a way that the bulky enantiodiscriminating elements are arranged in close proximity to the reaction center. It is assumed that this chiral catalyst design could overcome the inherent limitations entailed by the propensity of gold(I) to form linear coordinated complexes.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Spain
• Host: Professor Antonio M. Echavarren, Ph.D.