Migratory insertion of alkenes into gold-carbon bonds, a fundamental yet unprecedented organometallic transformation, has been investigated from a discrete (P,C) cyclometalated gold(III) dimethyl complex. Methide abstraction by B(C6F5)3 is shown to generate a highly reactive cationic Au(III) complex that evolves spontaneously by C6F5 transfer from boron. In the presence of norbornene, migratory insertion into the Au-C bond proceeds readily. The resulting norbornyl complex is efficiently trapped with pyridines or chloride to give stable four-coordinate adducts.
Keywords: Lewis acids; gold; insertion reactions; olefins; organometallic chemistry.
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