Catalytic studies of cyclometalated gold(III) complexes and their related UiO-67 MOF

Abstract Cyclometalated gold(III) complexes Au(L)(OAcF)2 (L = phenylpyridine dicarboxylic diester (ppyde) or phenylpyridine dicarboxylic acid (ppydc)) have been prepared reacting Au(OAc)3 with corresponding phenyl pyridines (ppyde or ppydc) in trifluoroacetic acid (HOAcF) under microwave heating. Further treatment of Au(L)(OAcF)2 with aqua regia resulted in dichloro complexes Au(L)Cl2. Au-functionalized UiO-67 MOF has been synthesized by exchanging linkers of UiO-67 with Au(ppydc)Cl2, furnishing the MOF with (N^C)-cyclometalated Au(III) centers. The catalytic activities of the molecular cyclometalated complexes and the Au-incorporated MOF were studied in gold-catalyzed propargyl ester cyclopropanations. Almost all complexes and the MOF showed catalytic activity to the cyclopropanation product (up to 97% conversion), with a preference for the trans diastereoisomer (up to 14:86 d.r.). The recyclability of the most active molecular complex has also been investigated.