Synthesis of a new chiral C₂-symmetric NHC-AuCl complex

A New chiral C2 symmetric NHC ligand with two binaphthyl units has been synthesized. The new NHC ligand features two seven-membered rings that link the imidazolylidene with the binaphthyl units. X-Ray crystallographic analysis of the new NHC-AuCl complex indicates that the Au-Cl bond is located between the phenyl groups of the binaphthyl units and suggests that this arrangement could induce enantioselectivity in reactions. Indeed, catalytic asymmetric ene-yne cyclization of 2b in the presence of a catalytic amount (5 mol%) of cationic complex of 13 quantitatively afforded the cyclized product with 78% ee.