A cyclization-rearrangement cascade for the synthesis of structurally complex chiral gold(I)-aminocarbene complexes

Abstract

A facile synthesis of chiral cyclic alkyl aminocarbene-gold(I) complexes from gold-free 1,7-enyne substrates was developed. The novel cyclization-rearrangement reaction sequence is triggered by the addition of (Me2S)AuCl to different 1,7-enynes and leads to structurally unique carbene-gold(I) complexes in high yields. These novel complexes are catalytically active and inhibit the proliferation of different human cancer cell lines.

Keywords: carbenes; cyclization; enynes; organometallic complexes.