Merging Visible Light Photoredox and Gold Catalysis

ConspectusSince the beginning of this century, π-Lewis acidic gold complexes have become the catalysts of choice for a wide range of organic reactions, especially those involving nucleophilic addition to carbon–carbon multiple bonds. For the most part, however, the gold catalyst does not change oxidation state during the course of these processes and two-electron redox cycles of the kind implicated in cross-coupling chemistry are not easily accessible. In order to address this limitation and expand the scope of gold catalysis beyond conventional hydrofunctionalization, extensive efforts have been made to develop new oxidative reactions using strong external oxidants capable of overcoming the high potential of…

• AV
  Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft