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Updated: Mar 30, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
Efficient Room-Temperature, Au(+)-Mediated Coupling of a Carbene Ligand with Methane To Generate C2Hx (x = 4, 6)
Shaodong Zhou1, Jilai Li1,2, Xiao-Nan Wu1
1Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Strasse des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (Germany).
Abstract:
The thermal reactions of the closed-shell, "naked" gold-carbene complex [Au(CH2)](+) with methane have been explored by using FTICR mass spectrometry complemented by quantum chemical (QC) calculations at the CCSD(T)//BMK level of theory. Mechanistic aspects for this unprecedentedly efficient carbene insertion in the C-H bond of methane have been addressed and the origin of the counterintuitive high reactivity of [Au(CH2)](+) towards this most inert hydrocarbon is discussed.
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