Terphenyl(bisamino)phosphines: electron-rich ligands for gold-catalysis

Terphenyl(bisamino)phosphines have been identified as effective ligands in cationic gold( i ) complexes for the hydroamination of acetylenes. These systems are related to Buchwald phosphines and their steric properties have been evaluated. Effective hydroamination was noted even at low catalyst loadings and a series of cationic gold( i ) complexes has been structurally characterized clearly indicating stabilizing effects through gold-arene interactions. Simple terphenyl(bisamino)phosphines are strong donors and can be utilized as ligands in Au( i )-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of alyknes.