Arenediazonium salts as electrophiles for the oxidative addition of gold(i).

Arenediazonium salts generated in situ from anilines have been found for the first time to efficiently oxidize [AuCl(L)] (L = SMe2, PPh3) complexes in DMSO as a solvent, under thermal conditions. The structure of the [AuArCl2(L)] complexes formed has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. These complexes have been used as intermediates, in a one pot cross-coupling reaction of anilines with silver acetylides.