Argentate( i ) and ( iii ) complexes as intermediates in silver-mediated cross-coupling reactions

Silver-mediated cross-coupling reactions proceed via anionic ate complexes, which have been characterized by a combination of NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, and quantum-chemical calculations.

Despite the potential of silver to mediate synthetically valuable cross-coupling reactions, the operating mechanisms have remained unknown. Here, we use a combination of rapid-injection NMR spectroscopy, electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry, and quantum chemical calculations to demonstrate that these transformations involve argentate( i ) and ( iii ) complexes as key intermediates.