Au-based bimetallic nanoparticles for the intramolecular aminoalkene hydroamination.

Bimetallic Au-based nanoparticles (Au-M where M = Pt, Pd, Cu, Ni), synthesized by simultaneous reduction of the Au salt with noble/non-noble metal salts, exhibit a high activity for the aminoalkene (2,2-diphenylpent-4-en-1-amine) hydroamination affording the 5-membered Markovnikov product. Even though the particle size and morphology of Au-M nanoparticles are comparable to the corresponding monometallic Au nanoparticles, Au-M nanoparticles display superior catalytic activity, where the selectivity for the formation of the hydroaminated product depends on the alloying metal component in the bimetallic Au nanoparticle catalyst.