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Updated: May 30, 2026
Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Gold Intercalated in the Walls of Mesoporous Silica
Published on: July 9, 2015
Applications of gold(I) alkynyl systems: a growing field to explore
João Carlos Lima1, Laura Rodríguez
1REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Centro de Química Fina e Biotecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2825 Monte de Caparica, Portugal.
Abstract:
Gold(I) alkynyl complexes present a growing research field with respect to their very wide range of applications in different areas such as luminescence, molecular recognition, optical switches, electronics and catalysis. Biological applications are also being developed in the recent years, where these complexes are used as therapeutic agents against different illnesses such as cancer cells or malaria. Related to luminescence, a general overview of the different states responsible for the observed emission is also included in this critical review. In some cases, the assignment is complicated due to the influence of the gold(I) atom and its capability to form metal···metal interactions (aurophilicity). Although an extensive discussion has been found in the literature related to the luminescent properties of these complexes, to the best of our knowledge there are not reports covering the span of their very interesting applications. The widespread research fields where this kind of complexes could present a key role is presented in this review (119 references).
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02:27Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.
02:24Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
02:34Preparation of Alkynes: Dehydrohalogenation
Alkynes can be prepared by dehydrohalogenation of vicinal or geminal dihalides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide in liquid ammonia. The reaction proceeds with the loss of two equivalents of hydrogen halide (HX) via two successive E2 elimination reactions.
02:47Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
02:38Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
02:35Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Hydrohalogenation