title: Gold-mediated C-I bond activation of iodobenzene.
abstract: Controversy resolved! A combination of gas-phase ion-molecule reactions and theoretical studies confirm bisligated mononuclear Au(I) complexes are unable to undergo oxidative addition of iodobenzene for Sonogashira coupling, but that the ligated gold clusters [Au(3)L(n)](+) (L=Ph(2)P(CH(2))(n)PPh(2); n=3-6) activate the C-I bond. DFT calculations on the transition states show that the linker size n tunes the cluster reactivity.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter S D
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Khairallah
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lioe
authors.forename: Richard A J
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: O'Hair