Synthesis of Gold Complexes Bearing Sterically Highly Encumbered, Chiral Carbene Ligands

The synthesis of chiral carbene ligands derived from bis(tetrahydroisoquinoline) bearing sterically highly demanding, rigid substituents is described. Their corresponding gold complexes were structurally elucidated and successfully employed as catalysts for the desymmetrization of 1,4-diynamides.