Reactions of gold(III) complexes with alkenes in aqueous media: Generation of bis-(β-hydroxyalkyl)gold(III) complexes

Reactions of gold(III) complexes with ethylene and propylene in water provide the first such examples not accompanied by reduction of the gold. HAuC₁₄ and AuCL³(TPPTS) produce organic products (alcohol, aldehyde/ketone, etc.) with gold reduction to the metal. However, [Au(bipy)CL²] Cl in water produces the gold(III) β-hydroxy complexes, [Au(bipy)(CH₂CH₂OH)₂]X (X =Cl, PF6) and [Au(bipy)(CH₂CH(OH)CH3]Cl, which are stable in solution. These complexes could not be isolated, but were characterized by NMR and high-resolution mass spectra. [Au(terpy)Cl]CL² fails to react with ethylene in water, even at elevated temperatures. DFT computations were performed to investigate the reaction mechanism.