Iron(III) Triflimide as a Catalytic Substitute for Gold(I) in Hydroaddition Reactions to Unsaturated Carbon–Carbon Bonds

In this work it is shown that iron(III) and gold(I) triflimide efficiently catalyze the hydroaddition of a wide array of nucleophiles including water, alcohols, thiols, amines, alkynes, and alkenes to multiple CC bonds. The study of the catalytic activity and selectivity of iron(III), gold(I), and Brønsted triflimides has unveiled that iron(III) triflimide [Fe(NTf 2 ) 3 ] is a robust catalyst under heating conditions, whereas gold(I) triflimide, even stabilized by PPh 3 , readily decomposes at 80 °C and releases triflimidic acid (HNTf 2 ) that can catalyze the corresponding reaction, as shown by in situ 19 F, 15 N, and 31 P NMR spectroscopy. The results presented here demonstrate that each of the two catalyst types has weaknesses and strengths and complement each other. Iron(III) triflimide can act as a substitute of gold(I) triflimide as a catalyst for hydroaddition reactions to unsaturated carbon–carbon bonds.