Metathesis Reactions between Heavy d-8 Fluorides and I(III)–Pyridine Complexes

The reaction between trans-[AuF (pyridine) ] and [PhI(pyridine) ] results in the formation of PhIF and [Au(pyridine) ] . Investigation of the reaction pathway using model Pd and Pt analogues of the gold complex indicate that the most likely mechanism is attack by the Au-F onto the I(III), rather than a redox process. This demonstrates that the Au(III)-F fragment can behave in a nucleophilic manner even in a relatively electron-poor cationic complex.