The action Au-MLC has resulted in the discovery of an hitherto-unknown mechanism for the oxidative addition of Au(I) to carbon-halogen bonds. Our study on the reaction conditions, including the ligand design, has provided valuable new information on this elementary step, which is nowadays being exploited in increasingly sophisticated synthetic methodologies. We expect that the impact of our finding will reach many fields of catalysis, with applications ranging from protein derivatization in biochemistry, to an increase of efficiency in the already-known methods, to the development of entirely new reactions and synthetic strategies.
Moreover, the project resulted in the isolation and characterisation of the first Au(III) complexes bearing an SPO as ancillary ligand. Given the unique properties of SPOs as ligands (H-bonding ability, nucleophilicity, basicity), and the ever-expanding role of Au(III) in material and medicinal chemistry, our findings can realistically be expected to be exploited by research groups working in these fields, both in academia and in industry.
Impact for the fellow
The training received by the fellow on the design, synthesis and characterization, combining experimental and theoretical studies, of novel and original organometallic species, and the study of their fundamental properties has widened his knowledge and skillset in transition metal chemistry and organic synthesis. Combined with his previous high-level expertise in catalytic methodology, the fellow has gained an excellent background in diverse areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, organometallic and catalysis), expanding his possibilities for his independent career.
Additionally, the researcher has provided tutoring to junior students, and has been spearheading the preparation of all manuscripts that arised from the project (and is still involve din first person for all those that will follow); he was also involved in first person in the financial management was also of the fellowship, paving the way for his future career as independent researcher.
Impact in the scientific community and society
Direct beneficiaries of the results arised from this project are researchers in the fields of organometallic chemistry (Nevado, Tilset), catalysis (Hashmi, Toste, Patil), and biological and medicinal chemistry (Spokoyny, Casini) across the globe. Besides, the fundamental knowledge deriving from a novel switchable oxidative addition step, and the well-defined, stable complexes it produces, will disclose new patterns of reactivity in the fields of fundamental organometallic chemistry, in cross coupling catalysis, advanced materials, and in biological applications.
