Hydrophenoxylation of internal alkynes catalysed with a heterobimetallic Cu-NHC/Au-NHC system.

A straightforward method for the hydrophenoxylation of internal alkynes, using N-heterocyclic carbene-based copper(i) and gold(i) complexes, is described. The heterobimetallic catalytic system proceeds via dual activation of the substrates to afford the desired vinylether derivatives. This methodology is shown to be highly efficient and tolerates a wide range of substituted phenols and alkynes.

Ruthenium indenylidene "1(st) generation" olefin metathesis catalysts containing triisopropyl phosphite.

The reaction of triisopropyl phosphite with phosphine-based indenylidene pre-catalysts affords "1(st) generation" cis-complexes. These have been used in olefin metathesis reactions. The cis-Ru species exhibit noticeable differences with the trans-Ru parent complexes in terms of structure, thermal stability and reactivity.

Asymmetric cyclopropanation of olefins catalysed by Cu(I) complexes of chiral pyridine-containing macrocyclic ligands (Pc-L*).

The synthesis and characterisation of copper(I) complexes of chiral pyridine-containing macrocyclic ligands (Pc-L*) and their use as catalysts in asymmetric cyclopropanation reactions are reported. All ligands and metal complexes were fully characterised, including crystal structures of some species determined by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. This allowed characterising the very different conformations of the macrocycles which could be induced by different substituents or by metal complexation.