Secondary Phosphine Oxide-Gold(I) Complexes and Their First Application in Catalysis

A series of new secondary phosphine oxide (SPO)–gold(I) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complexes exhibited dimeric structures interconnected by O–H···Cl hydrogen bonds. Their first use in homogeneous catalysis is reported and suggests a broad field of application in prototypical enyne cycloisomerization and hydroxy- and methoxycyclization reactions.