Identification of HOTf-Driven Brønsted Acid Catalysis in the AuCl 3 /AgOTf System for the Hydroalkylation of Styrene | Synapse
May 7, 2026Open Access
Identification of HOTf-Driven Brønsted Acid Catalysis in the AuCl 3 /AgOTf System for the Hydroalkylation of Styrene
Key Points
This research aims to identify the catalytically active species involved in the AuCl3/AgOTf system for hydroalkylation of styrene.
Utilized AuCl3/AgOTf combination to explore hydroalkylation reactions.
Analyzed in situ generation of Brønsted acid during the catalytic process.
Brønsted acid was confirmed as the active catalytic species in the system.
Provided evidence that a precious-metal-based electrophile is less likely the catalyst.
Abstract
/AgOTf system investigated here, the catalytically competent species is most plausibly an in situ generated Brønsted acid rather than a discrete precious-metal-based electrophile.