Methods for simultaneous leaching and extraction of precious metals

A method of leaching and extracting gold and/or palladium from a substance comprising gold and/or palladium, the method comprising:

• treating a mixture comprising an aqueous phase comprising an acid, an oxidizing agent and the substance, and an organic phase comprising a water-immiscible organic solvent and a compound of Formula I:
• wherein
• R1 is —NR4R5 or aryl;
• R2 and R3 are each independently selected from H, C1-10alkyl, C3-10cycloalkyl, C1-6alkyleneC3-10cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl and aryl;
• or
• R2 and R3 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocycloalkyl or a heteroaryl, or a heterocycloalkyl or a heteroaryl substituted at one or more carbon atoms with C1-4alkyl;
• R4 and R5 are each independently selected from H, C1-10alkyl, C3-10cycloalkyl, C1-6alkyleneC3-10cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl and aryl;
• or
• R4 and R5 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocycloalkyl or a heteroaryl, or a heterocycloalkyl or a heteroaryl substituted at one or more carbon atoms with C1-4alkyl;
• X is O or S;
• Y is S, NR6 or CR6R7;
• and
• R6 and R7 are each independently selected from H, C1-10alkyl, C3-10cycloalkyl, C1-6alkyleneC3-10cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl and aryl,
• under conditions to leach the gold and/or palladium from the substance and extract the gold and/or palladium by forming a complex between the leached gold and/or palladium and the compound of Formula I, in one step.