Gold-Catalyzed Addition of ß-Ketoesters to Alkenes: Influence of Electronic and Steric Effects in the Reaction Outcome.

The gold-catalyzed intermolecular hydroalkylation of olefins with ß-ketoesters represents a conceptually attractive and useful synthetic tool; however, it has been scarcely applied, remaining a challenge for chemists. The aim of the current study was to investigate the addition of these 1,3-diketo-compounds to alkenes under gold catalysis conditions, in order to establish the electronic and steric effects of the alkenyl substrates in the reaction outcome. The screening of different catalyst systems and diverse olefins enabled defining the alkenyl requirements and the best reaction conditions to efficiently achieve the coupled products.

Double Gold Activation of 1-Ethynyl-2-(Phenylethynyl)Benzene Toward 5-exo-dig and 6-endo-dig Cyclization Reactions.

In this work, a detailed characterization was carried out of the ring-closure mechanism of EPB (1-ethynyl-2-(phenylethynyl)benzene) toward the 5-exo-dig and 6-endo-dig cyclization reactions, catalyzed by two Au-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) moieties. It was found that the 5-exo-dig cyclization takes place with a slightly lower activation barrier and larger exothermicity compared to that of the 6-endo-dig cyclization, in agreement with the available experimental data. A phenomenological partition (structural and electronic) for rate constants computed using transition-state theory and the reaction force analysis was used to shed light into the nature of the activation rate constant. It was found that rate constants are influenced by a strong structural component, which is larger for the 5-exo-dig cyclization due to the strain to form the five-membered ring. On the other hand, the gold activation mechanism is evidenced by a σ- and π-coordination of the Au-NHC moieties to the EPB substrate. It was found that differences in the σ-coordination arise on the reaction path for the 5-exo-dig and 6-endo-dig cyclizations. Thus, in the 6-endo-dig cyclization the σ gold-EPB interaction is weakened as a consequence of the formation of the cationic aryl intermediate, while for the 5-exo-dig cyclization this interaction was found to be favored. Furthermore, although minor changes in the Au-EPB coordination occur on the reaction path, these bonds are formally established in the TS vicinity. Results support the concerted nature of the dual gold activation mechanism.

Gold nanoparticles supported in zirconia-ceria mesoporous thin films: a highly active reusable heterogeneous nanocatalyst.

Gold nanoparticles (NP) trapped in the mesopores of mixed zirconia-ceria thin films are prepared in a straightforward and reproducible way. The films exhibit enhanced stability and excellent catalytic activity in nitro-group reduction by borohydride and electrocatalytic activity in CO and ethanol oxidation and oxygen reduction.