The electrosynthesis of gold(I) complexes: A clean, one-pot method

Gold complexes are emerging as promising compounds in a range of applications. Synthetic methods for producing these complexes involve multiple steps, the use of reducing agents, inert atmosphere techniques and transmetallation reactions, resulting in contaminated products and low yields. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, a clean, one-pot electrosynthesis method which produces gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbenes and gold(I)-bis-phosphine by the anodic corrosion of a polycrystalline gold electrode in a solution containing the ligands and the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactions require only electrons and, therefore, the production of the complexes starts from the zero-valent metal, avoiding contamination with other metals, as is the case in transmetallation reactions, or byproducts generated by the use of reducing agents.