Synthesis and reactivity of some nitroaryl complexes of Hg-II and Au-III - Synthesis of a substituted biphenyl by C-C coupling - Crystal structure of [Hg(C6H4NO2-3,OnBu-6)(2)]

4-Butoxynitrobenzene reacts with [Hg(O2CCF3)(2)] and LiCl to [Hg(R)Cl] [R = C6H3NO2-3,OnBu-6 (1)] which is symmetrized by Me(4)NCl to give [HgR(2)] (2), the crystal structure of which has been determined. The reaction of 2 with Me(4)N[AuCl4] affords Me(4)N[Au(R)Cl-3] (3) by a facile transmetallation process. Complex 3 reacts with PPh(3) (1:1) to give cis-[Au(R)(PPh(3))Cl-2] (4). The diaryl complex [Au(C6H4N=N-Ph-2)(R)Cl] (5) is obtained by reaction of 3 with [Hg(C6H4N=NPh-2)(2)] through a second transmetallation reaction. Complex 5 and PPh(3) (1:1) give [AuClPPh(3)] and the C-C coupling biphenyl RC(6)H(4)N=NPh-2 (6).