Affiliation:
1. Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM) Universitat Jaume I Avda. Sos Baynat s/n 12006 Castellón Spain
2. Instituto de Síntesis Química y Catálisis Homogénea (iSQCH) CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza C/Pedro Cerbuna 12 50009 Zaragoza Spain
3. Current address: Institut für Chemie Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
Abstract
AbstractGold(III) complexes containing trifluoromethyl ligands are efficient catalysts in the hydration of alkynes, operating at low catalyst loadings, without additives, using environmentally friendly solvents and at mild conditions (60 °C). Hydration of terminal and internal alkynes provides the corresponding ketones in quantitative yields without special precautions as dry solvents or inert atmospheres. Remarkably, hydration of asymmetric internal alkynes proceeds with moderate to notable regioselectivities, providing mixtures of the two possible isomers with ratios up to 90 : 10.