Nitrene Transfer Reactions Catalyzed by Gold Complexes

Abstract

We report here the first gold-catalyzed nitrene transfer reaction. A gold(I) compound, supported by 4,4',4' '-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (tBu3tpy) as the ligand, efficiently catalyzes olefin aziridination with the use of the commercially available oxidant PhI(OAc)2 and sulfonamides. This system also mediates carbene insertion into benzene.