New Gold(I) Alkynophylic CatalystsAutor: Mihai RaducanDirector: Antonio M. EchavarrenResumen para TESEO en castellano: El uso de nitrilos aromáticos ricos en electrones permitió el aislamiento de nuevos catalizadores catiónicos de oro(I) estables al aire. [Au(tmbn)2](SbF6) (tmbn = 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzonitrilo), sintetizado a partir de AuCl, sirve como precursor para otros complejos de oro(I). Sólo uno o los dos ligandos tmbn pudieron ser sustituidos con ligandos fosforados, nitrogenados o carbonados y los complejos resultantes se pudieron aislar mediante cristalización. Se estudió la actividad catalítica de estos complejos en la ciclación de 1,6-eninos y reacciones relacionadas. También se han sido aislado y caracterizado catalizadores de oro conteniendo fosfatos quirales.En presencia de complejos de oro(I), los 1,6-eninos conteniendo alcoholes o éteres propargílicos sufren una migración estereoespecífica intramolecular 1,5 dando lugar a cationes de alil-oro. Estos intermedios se pueden atrapar intra- o intermolecularmente con alquenos, dienos o éteres bencílicos. Esta reacción estereoespecífica puede dar lugar a compuestos relacionados con los sesquiterpenos 4-epiglobulol, 4-aromadendreno, con los carotanes y los schinsanwilsonenos.New Gold(I) Alkynophylic CatalystsAutor: Mihai RaducanDirector: Antonio M. EchavarrenResumen para TESEO en inglés: Employing electron rich aromatic nitriles as labile ligands gold(I) catalysts were isolated as air stable solids. [Au(tmbn)2](SbF6) (tmbn = 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzonitrile), synthesized starting from AuCl, serves as a precursor for other gold(I) complexes. Only one or both of the tmbn ligands could be substituted by N, P, or C ligands and the resulting complexes could be isolated by crystallization. The catalytic activity of these complexes was studied for the cyclization of 1,6-enynes and other related reactions. Gold(I) catalysts containing chiral phosphates were also isolated and characterized. Upon activation with Au(I) cationic catalysts, 1,6-enynes with propargyl alcohols and ethers undergo stereospecific intramolecular 1,5-migration via allyl-gold cations. These intermediates were trapped inter- or intramolecularly with alkenes, dienes and benzyl ethers. This stereospecific reaction can lead to compounds, related to the sesquiterpenes 4-epiglobulol and 4-aromadendrene, the carotanes and the schinsanwilsonenes.

The synthesis and characterization of complexes analogous to the novel anti-arthritis gold drug auranofin is presented. The general composition of these compounds is L-Au-X where L=triethyl-phosphine and X=tetraacetylthioglucose or chloride in the case of auranofin or its synthetic precursor. Incorporation of ligands (L) such as isocyanides and aromatic nitrogen donors fail to impart the same stability to gold(I) that phosphines or thiols are capable of. Complexes of aromatic nitrogen ligands are prone to decomposition and those of isocyanides, although thermodynamically stable, are labile and subject to relatively rapid isocyanide substitution as well as the expected substitution of the halide group. Complexes have been investigated with regard to their in vitro and in vivo DNA-binding capabilities in light of the reported anticancer properties of auranofin itself. Isocyanide and phosphine gold(I) complexes as well as a series of gold(lll) complexes have shown their ability to bind to DNA in vitro but lose their viability in vivo. This is likely a result of reduction of the gold by thiol groups present in a living system and is associated with the observed cytotoxicity at increasing concentrations. The tris-2-pyridylphosphine (TPP) ligand has also been utilized as a choice for L which has led to the synthesis of the auranofin analogue, (tris-2-pyridylphosphine)(tetraacetylthioglucose)gold(l). Metal ions such as Zn(ll), Co(lll), Cu(ll), Fe(II), Fe(III) and Cr(lll) have been incorporated at the pyridyl nitrogen sites and this series of complexes has been studied crystallographically. N-bound and mixed N-and P-bound complexes have been studied by other techniques as well, depending on the nature of the metal ion involved. Copper(ll) complexes have been investigated by E.S.R. and UV/Visible spectroscopies, Moessbauer data is presented for iron(ll) and iron(lll) complexes and infrared data has been collected and summarized for all complexes. In general, the TPP ligand is an accomodating chelate; N-bound complexes are octahedral and little ligand strain is observed upon coordination. The nitrogen and phosphorus sites are independent in that there appear to be no electronic effects exerted by one site on the other. An important effect of coordinating metal ions to the nitrogen sites is to alter the solubility of the hydrophobic ClAuTPP complex to one with hydrophilic properties. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / In this study the coordination of ligands with several coordination sites, 2-aminoazoles (2- amino-4-methylthiazole), 2-aminobenzothiazole, 2-aminobenzoimidazole and 2- aminothiazoline and a biguanidine (N-(2-methylphenyl)imidodicarbonimidic diamide) to soft metal centres [gold(I) (group 11), chromium(0) (group 6) and tungsten (0) (group 6)] was investigated. The aminoazoles have three coordination sites, an exocyclic amine nitrogen, an endocyclic imine nitrogen and an endocyclic thioether sulphur. The biguanidine ligand has three sites for deprotonation, one central amine and two imine nitrogens, and at least five sites available for nitrogen coordination.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Please refer to full text for abstract

<p>The ability of gold(I) complexes to function as catalysts for myriad organic transformations has led to a dramatic increase in their utilization. Among the homogeneous reactions catalyzed by gold(I), carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond forming processes are of particular interest for the fields of organic synthesis and pharmaceutical development. Discussed herein are gold(I)-catalyzed methods for the intra- and intermolecular functionalization of alkenes, alkynes, and allenes with nitrogen- and oxygen-based nucleophiles leading to new C&#8210;X bonds (X = N, O).</p><p>Approximately 26 cationic gold &pi;-alkene complexes, containing either IPr [IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene] or P(t-Bu)2o-biphenyl ancillary ligands, were isolated or generated and six complexes were analyzed by X-ray crystallography. Spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and alkene binding studies are in accord with a gold&#8722;(&#960;-alkene) interaction dominated by &sigma;-donation from the alkene to gold. Kinetic analyses of degenerate isobutylene exchange in both the IPr and phosphine systems are consistent with associative pathways for isobutylene exchange involving cationic bis(alkene) intermediates.</p><p>Reaction of a 1:1 mixture of (L)AuCl [L = P(t-Bu)₂o-biphenyl or IPr] and AgSbF₆ with internal alkynes led to isolation of the corresponding cationic, two-coordinate gold &pi;-alkyne complexes in &#8805;90% yield. Equilibrium binding studies show that the binding affinities of alkynes to gold(I) are strongly affected by the electron density of the alkyne and to a lesser extent on the steric bulk of the alkyne. Treatment of a suspension of (IPr)AuCl and AgSbF₆ with terminal arylacetylenes led to the formation of thermally unstable gold &pi;-alkyne complexes of the form [(IPr)Au(eta<super>2</super>-HC&#8801;CAr)] SbF₆ in &#8805;86 ± 5% yield, which were characterized by spectroscopy without isolation. Warming these complexes to 0 °C led to C(sp)-H bond cleavage and formation of dinuclear gold(I) &sigma;,&pi;-acetylide complexes of the form {[(IPr)Au]₂(eta<super>1</super>,eta<super>2</super>-C&#8801;CAr)} SbF₆, three of which were isolated in 99% yield and one of which was characterized by X-ray crystallography.</p><p>A family of 7 cationic gold(I) &pi;-allene complexes were isolated and fully characterized in solution, and in three cases by X-ray crystallography. Degenerate intermolecular allene exchange kinetic studies for three of the allene complexes are in accord with a two-term rate law of the form rate = k1[complex] + k2[complex][allene] with with Gibb's free energy barriers of 17.4 - 18.8 kcal mol<super>-1</super> (1) and 15.2 - 17.6 kcal mol<super>-1</super> (2). Variable temperature NMR analysis of these complexes established facile intramolecular &#61552;-face exchange through &#61544;1-allene intermediates or transition states with barriers of 8.9 - 10.9 kcal mol<super>-1</super> for phosphine and 9.5 - 12.2 kcal mol<super>-1</super> for IPr complexes.</p><p>Mechanistic investigation of gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular allene hydroalkoxylation established a mechanism involving rapid and reversible C-O bond formation followed by turnover-limiting protodeauration from a mono(gold) vinyl complex. This on-cycle pathway competes with catalyst aggregation and formation of an off-cycle bis(gold) vinyl complex.</p> / Dissertation

Le cancer colorectal (CCR) est le troisième cancer le plus commun diagnostiqué dans le monde entier. Les limites de la chimiothérapie à base de cisplatine ont incité les scientifiques à rechercher de nouveaux médicaments anti-cancéreux à base de métal. Les complexes à base d’or(III) ont été parmi les plus largement étudiés puisqu’ils ont montré une plus importante cytotoxicité in vitro que le cisplatine ainsi que des activités anti-cancéreuse in vivo dans le CCR, mais leur utilisation clinique a été limitée en raison de leur faible stabilité dans des conditions physiologiques. De nouveaux complexes à base d’or(III) couplés à la porphyrine [or(III)/chlorure d’adamantane-porphyrine (SN1) et or(III)/chlorure de mono-acétateporphyrin (SN2)] avec une stabilité en solution aqueuse améliorée ont été synthétisés. SN1 et SN2 réduisent la survie des lignées humaines HT-29 et HCT-116 de CCR, causent l'arrêt du cycle cellulaire en phase G2/M, et nous avons observé une diminution de l'expression de la cycline B1 et de la kinase « cyclindépendant 1 » (Cdk1) avec une surexpression de la forme active de p53, p21 et de « Bcl-2-associated X » (Bax). En outre, SN1 et SN2 induisent l’apoptose par la voie intrinsèque, puisqu'ils mènent au clivage de la caspase 9, la caspase 3 et la poly(ADP-ribose) polymérase (PARP) tout en augmentant l’expression de Bax. La phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protéine kinase B (PI3K/Akt), le facteur nucléaire κB (NF-κB) et l’ « extracellular signal-regulated kinase » (ERK) sont importants pour la survie cellulaire et la prolifération. SN1 et SN2 entrainent une diminution de l'activité d'Akt où la forme phosphorylée diminue avec le temps, mais aussi ils causent une diminution importante dans la phosphorylation d'ERK et l'activité de NF-κB. Finalement, les complexes SN1 et SN2 ciblent la voie p38/« mitogen-activated protein kinase » (MAPK) entrainant une augmentation de l'expression de la cyclooxygenase-2 et de son produit enzymatique la prostaglandine E2. / Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. The limitations of cisplatin-based chemotherapy have prompted intense interest among scientists to search for alternative metal-based anticancer medicines. Gold(III) complexes have been among the most widely investigated since they showed higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin and promising in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities in CRC but their clinical usefulness has been limited by their poor stability under physiological conditions. A novel gold(III) porphyrin complexes [gold(III) porphyrin-adamantane chloride (SN1) and gold(III) porphyrin mono-acetate chloride (SN2)] with improved aqueous stability were synthesized. SN1 and SN2 reduced the survival of human CRC HT-29 and HCT-116 cell lines, caused cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, and we observed downregulation of the expression of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) along with up-regulation of the active form of p53, p21 and Bcl-2–associated X (Bax). Furthermore, SN1 and SN2 induced apoptosis by the intrinsic pathway, since they lead to the cleavage of caspase 9, caspase 3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and up-regulating Bax. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) are important for cell survival and proliferation. SN1 and SN2 lead to decrease in the activity of Akt where thephosphorylated form decreased with time as well as they caused an important decrease in the phosphorylation of ERK and activity of NF-κB. Finally, SN1 and SN2 complexes affected p38/mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway then we recorded an increase in the cyclooxygenase-2 expression and its enzymatic product prostaglandin E2.

No description available.

Thesis (PhD (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Novel gold(I) trithiophosphite complexes were synthesised by utilising the ligands P(SR)3 (R = Me, Ph) and 1,2-bis(1,3,2-dithiaphospholan-2-ylthio)ethane (2L). Reaction with (tht)AuCl or (tht)AuC6F5 readily yielded the corresponding complexes (RS)3PAuX and 2L(AuX)2 (X = Cl, C6F5) as well as {Au[P(SMe)3]2}CF3SO3. Structural characterisation by X-ray diffraction revealed linear complexes in part associating by Au…Au and/or Au…S contacts, two polymorphs of one compound associating by either Au…S interactions or p-stacking was also obtained. (MeS)3PAuCl and (MeO)3PAuCl were found to be isostructural in the solid state. The complex chloro[tris(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)phosphane]gold, A, was used to probe the electronic influence tris(azol-2-yl)phosphanes exert upon gold(I) by substituting the chloride with various thiolates. In contrast to Ph3PAuCl, only NCS– and PhC(O)S– afforded stable compounds which could be attributed to a weaker donating capability of the tris- (azolyl)phosphane ligand class. The compounds A and chloro[tris(thiazol-2-yl)phosphane]- gold, B, were shown to crystallise in 4 new polymorphs and solvates bringing the total to an exceptional seven. Among the solid-state structures of A the rare instance of a polymorph and a thf solvate not exhibiting aurophilic interactions as opposed to the original structure were observed. Complex B was shown to crystallise in polymorphs where dimers are associated either by Au…Au or Au…Cl interactions but otherwise exhibit similar arrangements of the ligand, this set of polymorphs is unprecedented amongst gold complexes. An NMR experiment proved that tris(thiazolyl)phosphane complexes are subject to hydrolysis under alkaline conditions. A trimeric gold(I) heterometallacycle, obtained by reacting (tht)AuCl with 4,4-dimethyl-2-(2- thienyl)oxazoline deprotonated at C-5 of the thiophene ring, was structurally characterised. Intramolecular Au…S interactions were found to be present which precluded interaction of the gold atoms with other metal centres such as Me3CNCAuCl or AgNO3. A second solvate obtained additionally exhibits Au…Au interactions. The scope of uncommon bis-imine coordination to AuI was expanded by utilising 1,2-bis(1-imidazolylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (2L) to synthesise the [Au2(μ-2L)2]2+ cation. The triflate salt forms the first porous crystal structure of gold and the co-crystallised solvent could be partially removed by evacuation at elevated temperatures. Utilising a ditopic phosphite ligand instead of the commonly used ditopic phosphane ligands, a new cationic species of the type [Au2(μ-2L)3]2+ was characterised in the solid state for the first time. Finally, employing 2-phenylthiazole and 1-(thiazol-2-yl)piperidine which can be deprotonated at C-5 of the thiazole ring, Fischer-type pentacarbonyltungsten carbeniate complexes were prepared and structurally characterised. Starting from these complexes, the analogous Fischertype methoxycarbene as well as carbyne complexes could be obtained by alkylation and formal oxide abstraction, respectively. The latter products readily formed dinuclear adducts with AuCl. A Fischer-type methoxycarbene could be transferred to AuI affording the first such gold(I) complex exhibiting Au…Au interactions in the solid state as well as a rare agostic Au…H interaction which was examined by low-temperature 1H NMR measurements. Transfer of the carbeniate ligand derived from 1-(thiazol-2-yl)piperidine to Ph3PAu+ afforded an aurated thiazole product (by an unprecedented loss of CO) which may be represented as a pseudoabnormal azolylidene complex owing to W(CO)5-coordination at a distant nitrogen. The carbeniate originating from 2-phenylthiazole, on the other hand, afforded, by rare W(CO)5- trapping and without CO-loss, a pseudo Fischer-type carbene complex. Carbene transfer to gold was complemented by the first transfers of rNHC ligands from chromium and tungsten to gold(I) affording a novel class of complexes, all of which were structurally characterised. This work bridges the unnatural divide created between Fischer and N-heterocyclic carbene complexes.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-05-09T11:14:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 joanadarcsouzachaves.pdf: 22609666 bytes, checksum: 51b261770678783ac0b930fe0b204ace (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-17T14:05:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 joanadarcsouzachaves.pdf: 22609666 bytes, checksum: 51b261770678783ac0b930fe0b204ace (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T14:05:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 joanadarcsouzachaves.pdf: 22609666 bytes, checksum: 51b261770678783ac0b930fe0b204ace (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-27 / As propriedades medicinais do ouro têm sido exploradas ao longo da história da civilização. Na China, em 2500 a.C o ouro era usado para tratar varíola, úlceras da pele, sarampo e lepra. Em 1890 o sal Na[AuCl4] foi usado no tratamento da tuberculose e sífilis. Compostos de ouro contendo carboidratos têm sido usados na medicina, para tratar artrite reumatóide por mais de 50 anos, porém outras propriedades biológicas destes compostos vêm sendo descritas na literatura, como as propriedades antitumorais, antibacterianas, antifúngicas e antiviral. A síntese de compostos derivados de carboidratos tem cada vez mais importância na química medicinal, destacando-se a grande variedade de atividade biológica e a baixa toxicidade apresentada por estes compostos. As 1,3-tiazolidinas e os 1,3,4-oxadiazóis constituem uma interessante classe de compostos heterocíclicos por estarem presentes em substâncias com diferentes atividades biológicas, destacando-se a antibacteriana, antifúngica, anti-inflamatória, analgésica, anticonvulsivante e anticancerígena. O primeiro capítulo deste trabalho traz uma introdução geral sobre o ouro, o câncer e a tuberculose. O segundo capítulo descreve a síntese de novos compostos de ouro(I) e ouro(III) com ligantes derivados de carboidrato, candidatos a agentes antitumorais e antibacterianos. Os resultados da atividade antitumoral e antituberculose apresentados pelos complexos de ouro preparados são promissores. O terceiro e último capítulo descreve a síntese e atividade antitumoral de novos complexos de ouro(I) e ouro(III), potenciais agentes antitumorais, com ligantes derivados de aromáticos e dos heterocíclicos: 1,3-tiazolidina-2-tiona e 1,3,4-oxadiazol- 2-tiona e de alquil ou aril fosfinas. Tais unidades aromáticas possuem diferentes substituintes na posição quatro do anel, visando verificar a influência dos mesmos e das fosfinas na atividade antitumoral. Os complexos de ouro(I) foram mais ativos que a cisplatina e apresentaram alto índices de seletividade. / The medicinal properties of gold have been explored throughout the history of civilization. In China, 2500 BC, gold was used to treat smallpox, skin ulcers, measles and leprosy. In the 1890’s the salt Na[AuCl4] was used to treat tuberculosis and syphilis. Gold compounds containing carbohydrates have been used in medicine, to treat rheumatoid arthritis for last 50 years, but other biological properties have been described in the literature such as antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. The synthesis of compounds derived from carbohydrates has become increasingly important in medicinal chemistry, due to the wide range of biological activity and low toxicity by these compounds. The 1,3-thiazolidines and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles are an interesting heterocyclic class of compounds being present in substances with different biological activities, notably antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticonvulsant and anti-cancer. The first chapter of this thesis provides a general introduction on gold, cancer and tuberculosis. The second chapter describes the synthesis of novel gold(I) and gold(III) compounds with ligands derived from carbohydrate, candidates for antitumor and antibacterial agents. The results of antitumor and antituberculosis activity presented by the gold complexes prepared are promising. The third and final chapter describes the synthesis and antitumor activity of novel gold (I) and gold(III) complexes, potential antitumor agents, derivatives of aromatic and heterocyclic ligands: 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione and 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione and alkyl or aryl phosphines. The aromatic units present different substituents on the aromatic ring in the four position to check their effect and the influence of the phosphines in antitumor activity. The gold(I) complexes were more cytotoxic than cisplatin and presented high selectivity indexes.

Au cours de ce travail, nous avons démontré l’apport que pouvait avoir le développement de nouveaux complexes chiraux de platine et d’or pour la catalyse asymétrique et pour la découverte de nouvelles réactions de cycloisomérisation d’énynes. Dans la première partie, de nouveaux complexes de platine chiraux ont été utilisés pour effectuer la première étude systématique de la réaction de cycloisomérisation d’énynes 1,5 hydroxylées. Les composés bicycliques correspondant ont été obtenus avec de bons rendement et jusqu’à 81% d’excès énantiomérique. Par la suite, de nouveaux complexes chiraux d’or, possédant un ligand phosphahélicène ont permis d’obtenir de très bons résultats dans des réactions de cycloisomérisation d’énynes 1,6 (jusqu’à 86% ee). Des variations structurales des hélices phosphorées ont ensuite été effectuées, en changeant notamment le groupement P-menthyle par un substituant P-isopinocampheyle. Si les complexes d’or correspondant n’ont pas permis de donner des résultats important en catalyse, cela a permis d’avoir une meilleure connaissance de nos catalyseurs, et des substitutions nécessaires à de bonnes inductions asymétriques. D’autre part, ces nouveaux catalyseurs semblent donner des résultats prometteurs dans des réactions d’organocatalyse asymétrique. Enfin, l’exploration de la chimie des phosphéniums N-hétérocycliques comme ligands du platine a permis de se rendre compte de la faible stabilité de ces espèces, mais surtout des activités catalytiques très intéressantes que pouvaient obtenir ces catalyseurs dans des réactions de cycloisomérisation. Ce travail préliminaire démontre la « preuve de concept », qui ne demande qu’à être continué à l’avenir. / In this work, we have carried out the first systematic investigations on the enantioselective transition metal-promoted cycloisomerizations of 1,5-enynes with hydroxyl functions at their propargylic positions. These experiments have highlighted a series of platinacyclic NHC-complexes afforded bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanones in up to 81% enantiomeric excess. In the second part of our work we have prepared both known and new phosphahelicenes via the oxidative photocyclization of olefins suitably made from phosphindole building blocks. We have demonstrated that this synthetic method allows modulation of the phosphahelicene structure. Gold(I) complexes have been prepared then from these phosphahelicenes. These complexes have been evaluated in the challenging field of the gold-catalyzed enantioselective cycloisomerizations of enynes. In the cycloisomerization of NTs tethered 1,6-enynes, we could obtain very high catalytic activity and good enantioselectivity, with up to 81% ee, by using the P-menthyl-substituted helicenes as chiral ligands. The cycloisomerization of 1,6-dien-8-ynes, which afforded bi- or tricyclic compounds in one step, at room temperature, in high yields and excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 86% ee). Thus, we have demonstrated that phosphahelicenes-gold complexes represent a new class of efficient catalysts, which complements the few chiral gold catalysts known so far. The chiral phosphahelicenes above have been evaluated briefly in a totally different field, that is nucleophilic organocatalysis. The trivalent phosphahelicenes proved able to promote the enantioselective [3+2] cyclizations between olefins and allenes, giving cyclopentene derivatives in excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 96% ee). Finally, we have investigated the use of N-heterocyclic phospheniums as ligands in transition metal catalysis, starting from platinum promoted cycloisomerizations as the model reactions. In doing these challenging, exploratory experiments, we have noticed a moderate stability of the few platinum-NHP complexes prepared so far. Nevertheless, the cationic Pt(0) complex (mesNHP)Pt(PPh₃)₂⁺OTf could be generated in situ. It displayed moderate but significant catalytic activity in the cycloisomerization of a 3-hydroxy-1,5-enyne (51% isolated yield). These experiments afford a proof-of-concept, but additional work is required to identify the most suitable metal/NHPs pairs leading to stable and efficient pre-catalysts. The cationic nature of the NHP ligands might open totally new perspectives in organometallic catalysis. Further studies on this topic will be carried out in our group in the near future.