Caroline Stow, Ph.D. Candidate
Ross Widenhoefer, Ph.D., Advisor
Abstract: Cationic gold(I) complexes have recently contributed to significant developments in homogenous catalysis. Such complexes have been praised as highly effective catalysts for the functionalization of C-C multiple bonds, leading to research on cationic gold-catalysts developing at an aggressive pace. Despite the progress being made surrounding gold(I)-catalysis, there are still many gaps in our fundamental understanding of the key intermediate complexes and their reactivity in these transformations, exemplified by the often evoked gold -oxo carbene species. While there are existing computational studies suggesting the instability of gold -oxo carbene species, there lacks any experimental evidence to support the stability and reactivity of alternate key intermediate species, such as gold -oxo carbenoid species and gold N-alkenoxypyridinium/sulfonium complexes. Herein, we address the issues surrounding the formation of gold -oxo carbene species, the synthesis and reactivity of gold -oxo carbene species, and the observation of gold N-alkenoxysulfonium complexes to gain insight on the potential key intermediate species in gold(I)-catalyzed transformations.