Catalyzed carbon-carbon couplings are very important in organic synthesis since the final products are used as intermediates for polymers, natural products and bioactive compounds. The preparation of recoverable and recyclable catalysts for such couplings is of much interest in green chemistry. The area of gold homogeneous catalysis have experience an enormous expansion in the last 5 years.[1] Recent results in this field have brought much interest in the study of gold complexes in different catalytic processes as well as the study on the reaction mechanisms and the nature of the catalytically active species.[2] Examples of recoverable and recyclable gold compounds in homogeneous catalysis are still scarce.[3]

We present here the synthesis of new water soluble gold(I) compounds and their application in the formation of C-C bonds in biphasic systems . Gold(I) compounds of the type [AuCl(PR₃)] and [Au(PR₃)₂]PF₆ with basic water soluble phosphines of the type [PR(C₆H₄SO₃Na) ₂] or [PR₂ (C₆H₄SO₃Na)] (R = Me, ⁿBu, Cp) have been prepared and characterized. They have been evaluated in Shonogashira and Suzuki cross-coupling of alkynes or arylboronic acids. Results on the recoverability and recyclability of the gold compounds will be discussed as well.

[1]. Nolan, S. P. Nature 2007, 445, 496.

[2]. Hashmi, A. S. K.; Hutchings, G. J. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 78096.

[3]. For example: Lantos, D.; Contel, M; Larrea, A; Sazbo, D; Horvath. QSAR Comb. Sci. 2006, 25, 719.