Efficient generation and increased reactivity in cationic gold via Brønsted acid or Lewis acid assisted activation of an imidogold precatalyst.

Brønsted or Lewis acid assisted activation of an imidogold precatalyst (L-Au-Pht, Pht = phthalimide) offers a superior way to generate cationic gold compared with the commonly used silver-based system. It is also broadly applicable for most common gold-catalyzed reactions. For reactions that require milder conditions, milder acids can be used for optimized efficiency.