Polynuclear gold( i ) complexes in photoredox catalysis: understanding their reactivity through characterization and kinetic analysis

The light mediated reduction of unactivated carbon–halogen bonds using polynuclear gold( i ) complexes provides a mild and temporally controlled route to the generation of C–H, and C–C bonds. Through complete photophysical and electrochemical charaterization of a series of gold( i ) complexes we have been able to achieve a more intimate understanding of the complexities surrounding the excited state processes and mechanism which underly these transformations, allowing for, and facilitating further and future optimizations and applications.