Transmetalation between Au(I) and Sn(IV) complexes. The reaction mechanism in non-coordinating and coordinating polar solvents.

Some novel gold(I) derivatives of the type [LAuCl] (L = DIC, PPh3, NHCs) have been synthesized and characterized. The products of the transmetalation reaction between these species and tributyl-phenylethynylstannane have been isolated and characterized. An exhaustive kinetic study on the transmetalation reaction has also been carried out in CHCl3 and CH3CN. The experimental results were discussed in terms of the electronic and steric characteristics of the ligands and an interpretation of the peculiar influence of different solvents on the reaction rates was propose