Through kinetic measurements, catalytic and stoichiometric experiments, as well as DFT calculations, we compare the catalytic activity of gold complexes supported by a variety of ligands (R3P, NHC, CAAC-5, CAAC-6, BiCAAC) in the hydroamination and hydrohydrazination of alkynes. This study provides a rationale for the superior efficiency of a gold complex bearing a bicyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (BiCAAC). We demonstrate that this ligand motif, which is readily available, provides a durable gold catalyst able to compete with sophisticated state-of-the-art phosphine and NHC ligands, which feature secondary interaction capabilities.

Regioselective hydrofunctionalization of alkynes represents a straightforward route to access alkenyl boronate and silane building blocks. In previously reported catalytic systems, high selectivity is achieved with a limited scope of substrates and/or reagents, with general solutions lacking. Herein, we describe a selective copper-catalyzed Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization of terminal alkynes that is facilitated by strongly donating cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) ligands. Using this method, both alkyl-and aryl-substituted alkynes are coupled with a variety of boryl and silyl reagents with high α-selectivity. The reaction is scalable, and the products are versatile intermediates that can participate in various downstream transformations.Preliminary mechanistic experiments shed light on the role of CAAC ligands in this process. File list (2) download file view on ChemRxiv Manuscript.pdf (2.91 MiB) download file view on ChemRxiv Supporting Info.pdf (7.13 MiB)

A simple experimental procedure for scaling carbene Brønsted basicity is described. The results highlight the strong basicity of pyrazol‐4‐ylidenes, a type of mesoionic carbene, also named cyclic‐bentallenes (CBA). They are more basic (pKaH >42.7 in acetonitrile) than the popular proazaphosphatrane Verkade bases, and even the Schwesinger phosphazene superbase P4(tBu). The basicity of these compounds can readily be tuned, and they are accessible in multigram quantities. These results open new avenues for carbon centered superbases.