(176)Uhde Catalysis. I.

Intriguing mechanistic labyrinths in gold(i) catalysis

Many mechanistically intriguing reactions have been developed in the last decade using gold(I) as catalyst. Here we review the main mechanistic proposals in gold-catalysed activation of alkynes and allenes, in which this metal plays a central role by stabilising a variety of complex cationic intermediates.

Hydroacenes Made Easy by Gold(I) Catalysis

A novel strategy for the synthesis of partially saturated acene derivatives has been developed based on a Au(I) -catalyzed cyclization of 1,7-enynes. This method provides straightforward access to stable polycyclic products featuring the backbone of the acene series, up to nonacene.

Oral Presentation Abstracts Session I: Catalysis

Promiscuous catalysis by the tetrahymena group I ribozyme.

Catalytic promiscuity, the ability of an enzyme to catalyze alternative reactions, has been suggested to have played an important role in the evolution of new catalytic activities in protein enzymes. Similarly, promiscuous activities may have been advantageous in an earlier RNA world. The Tetrahymena Group I ribozyme naturally catalyzes the site-specific guanosine attack on an anionic phosphate...

Enantioselective α-arylation of carbonyls via Cu(I)-bisoxazoline catalysis.

The enantioselective α-arylation of both lactones and acyl oxazolidones has been accomplished using a combination of diaryliodonium salts and copper catalysis. These mild catalytic conditions provide a new strategy for the enantioselective construction and retention of enolizable α-carbonyl benzylic stereocenters, a valuable synthon for the production of medicinal agents.