On the Mercuration, Palladation, Transmetalation and Direct Auration of a C^N^C Pincer Ligand

The C^N^C ligand 2,6-bis(2,3,-dialkoxyphenyl)pyridine forms dimercury and orthopalladated complexes, both of which may be transmetallated to gold(III) complexes; the gold complexes may also be formed directly in a Rh(III)-catalysed process, hence it is possible to circumvent the use of organomercury intermediates in the synthesis of this important class of compound.