Synthesis and Reactivity of Extremely Electron-Poor Au(III) Complexes Bearing OTf- or NTf2 - Ligands.

The synthesis and structural characterization of well-defined Au(III)-triflate and -bistriflimide complexes in concert with methylimidazole ligands are reported. These extremely electron-poor gold complexes are found to be susceptible to aryl metalation reactions with unfunctionalized aryls such as benzene and toluene. Subsequent addition of soluble halide sources allows for the synthesis of aryl halides.