A Nucleophilic Gold(III) Carbene Complex

The first gold(III) carbene complex was prepared by reacting a geminal dianion with a (P,C) cyclometallated gold(III) precursor. Its structure and bonding situation have been thoroughly investigated by experimental and computational means. The presence of a high-energy HOMO centered at the carbene center suggests nucleophilic character for the gold(III) carbene complex. This unprecedented feature was confirmed by reactions with two electrophiles (PhNCS and CS2) resulting in two types of C=C coupling.