Cluster Preface: Gold Catalysis for Organic Synthesis: Opportunities Abound

In the past decade, the reactivity of homogeneous gold catalysts have been explored, developed and harnessed by organic chemists. Among other reactivities, gold complexes can act as mild π-acid catalysts, participate in backbonding to generate intermediates with unique reactivity, and promote oxidative coupling reactions. Modification and tuning of the ligands in these complexes can modify reactivity and result in highly selective reactions. This relatively young field is still developing and entirely new modes of ­reactivity are being discovered.