Formation of the Me2SAuCl complex in the reaction of HAuCl4 with quercetin in dimethyl sulfoxide

The reaction of quercetin with HAuCl₄ in a DMSO–water medium yields the oxidation products of the organic substrate along with the (Me₂S)AuCl complex. According to quantum chemical modeling, the driving force of the process is the transfer of the oxygen atom from the initially formed complex (Me₂SO)AuCl to the organic substrate.