ABSTRACT
This chapter is focused on reported C-C bond-forming reactions
catalyzed by supported gold catalysts. Initially we introduce the
importance of palladium as a catalyst for these cross-coupling
reactions and the fact that based on the isoelectronic configuration
of the Pd(0)/Pd(II) pair with the Au(I)/Au(III) couple, there was
an interest in determining the activity of supported gold catalysts
for this type of reaction. In the chapter we emphasize the role of
the support cooperating with the reaction mechanism, describing
in detail the case of nanoparticulate ceria as a support. We
have also commented on the controversy about the influence of
palladium impurities on the activity of gold catalysts and how
theoretical calculations indicate the notable differences in the
reaction pathways between gold complexes and gold clusters and
nanoparticles. Light assistance by irradiating gold nanoparticles at
their characteristic surface plasmon band absorption with visible
light for the Suzuki-MIyaura coupling of aryl bromides and chlorides
with arylboronic acids is described and justified. The final section
summarizes the state of the art in this field and how highly
active supported gold catalysts for cross-couplings are still to be
developed.
