Gold-catalyzed intermolecular anti-markovnikov hydroamination of alkylidenecyclopropanes.

The cationic gold phosphine complex {PCy2 (o-biphenyl)}Au(NCMe) SbF6 (-) (Cy=cyclohexyl) catalyzes the intermolecular, anti-Markovnikov hydroamination reaction of monosubstituted and cis- and trans-disubstituted alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) with imidazolidin-2-ones and other nucleophiles. This reaction forms 1-cyclopropyl alkylamine derivatives in high yield and with high regio- and diastereoselectivity. NMR spectroscopic analysis of gold π-ACP complexes and control experiments point to the sp hybridization of the ACP internal alkene carbon atom as controlling the regiochemistry of the ACP hydroamination reaction.