Gold‐Catalyzed Ring Expansion of Alkynyl Heterocycles through 1,2‐Migration of an Endocyclic Carbon–Heteroatom Bond

A mild and efficient gold‐catalyzed oxidative ring‐expansion of a series of alkynyl heterocycles using pyridine‐N‐oxide as the oxidant has been developed, which affords highly valuable six‐ or seven‐membered heterocycles with wide functional group toleration. The reaction consists of a regioselective oxidation and a chemoselective migration of an endocyclic carbon–heteroatom bond (favored over C?H migration) with the order of migratory aptitude for carbon–heteroatom bonds being C?S>C?N>C?O. In the absence of an oxidant, polycyclic products are readily constructed through a ring‐expansion/Nazarov cyclization reaction sequence.     

From Ynamides to Highly Substituted Benzo[b]furans: Gold(I)‐Catalyzed 5‐endo‐dig‐Cyclization/Rearrangement of Alkylic Oxonium Intermediates

A series of arylynamides with alkyloxy groups at the ortho position of the aryl group was prepared through a short alkylation/cross‐coupling/amidation sequence. The gold‐catalyzed conversion of these substrates combined both C? O and C? C formation steps, thus providing benzofurans with amine functionalities at the 2‐position and alkyl groups at the 3‐position. Cross‐over experiments showed that the alkyl‐migration step was an intermolecular process. X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis of two of the products supported our structural assignment. In some cases, the corresponding benzofurans without the alkyl group at the 3‐position were obtained as side‐products, which were formed through a competing protodeauration process.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Regiospecific C−H Annulation of o‐Ethynylbiaryls with Anthranils: π‐Extension by Ring‐Expansion En Route to N‐Doped PAHs

We describe a novel, short, and flexible approach to diverse N‐doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through gold‐catalyzed π‐extension of anthranils with o‐ethynylbiaryls as reagents. This strategy uses easily accessible starting materials, is simple due to high step and atom economy, and shows good functional‐group compatibility as well as scale‐up potential. Mechanistically, the tandem reaction is proposed to involve a nucleophilic addition/ring opening/regiospecific C?H annulation/protodeauration sequence terminated by a Friedel–Crafts‐type cyclization. Photophysical studies of the products indicated violet‐blue fluorescence emission with quantum yields up to 0.45.     

Divergent CH Insertion–Cyclization Cascades of N‐Allyl Ynamides

Gold carbene reactivity patterns were accessed by ynamide insertion into a C(sp³)? H bond. A substantial increase in molecular complexity occurred through the cascade polycyclization of N‐allyl ynamides to form fused nitrogen‐heterocycle scaffolds. Exquisite selectivity was observed despite several competing pathways in an efficient gold‐catalyzed synthesis of densely functionalized C(sp³)‐rich polycycles and a copper‐catalyzed synthesis of fused pyridine derivatives. The respective gold–keteniminium and ketenimine activation pathways have been explored through a structure–reactivity study, and isotopic labeling identified turnover‐limiting C? H bond‐cleavage in both processes.     

Formal Gold‐to‐Gold Transmetalation of an Alkynyl Group Mediated by Palladium: A Bisalkynyl Gold Complex as a Ligand to Palladium

The reaction of [Au(C?C?n‐Bu)]_n with [Pd(η³‐allyl)Cl(PPh₃)] results in a ligand and alkynyl rearrangement, and leads to the heterometallic complex [Pd(η³‐allyl){Au(C?C?n‐Bu)₂}]₂ ( 3 ) with an unprecedented bridging bisalkynyl–gold ligand coordinated to palladium. This is a formal gold‐to‐gold transmetalation that occurs through reversible alkynyl transmetalations between gold and palladium.     

An Original L‐shape,Tunable N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Platform for Efficient Gold(I) Catalysis

The synthesis and characterization of original NHC ligands based on an imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridin‐3‐ylidene (IPy) scaffold functionalized with a flanking barbituric heterocycle is described as well as their use as tunable ligands for efficient gold‐catalyzed C?N, C?O, and C?C bond formations. High activity, regio‐, chemo‐, and stereoselectivities are obtained for hydroelementation and domino processes, underlining the excellent performance (TONs and TOFs) of these IPy‐based ligands in gold catalysis. The gold‐catalyzed domino reactions of 1,6‐enynes give rise to functionalized heterocycles in excellent isolated yields under mild conditions. The efficiency of the NHC gold 5^Me complex is remarkable and mostly arises from a combination of steric protection and stabilization of the cationic Au^I active species by ligand 1^Me .     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Highly Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Cyclization–[4+3] Annulation Cascades between 2‐(1‐Alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones and Anthranils

This work reports gold‐catalyzed [4+3]‐annulations of 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones with anthranils to yield epoxybenzoazepine products with excellent exo‐diastereoselectivity (dr>25:1). The utility of this new gold catalysis is manifested by applicable substrates over a broad scope. More importantly, the enantioselective versions of these [4+3]‐cycloadditions have been developed satisfactorily with chiral gold catalysts under ambient conditions (DCM, 0 °C); the ee levels range from 88.0–99.9 %. With DFT calculations, we postulate a stepwise pathway to rationalize the preferable exo‐stereoselection.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Functionalized Pyridines by Using 2H‐Azirines as Synthetic Equivalents of Alkenyl Nitrenes

2H‐Azirines are easily synthesized from the corresponding ketones and, despite possessing a C?N bond embedded in a strained three‐membered cycle, they are sufficiently stable to be isolated, stored, and manipulated. 2H‐Azirines can be regarded as valuable synthetic equivalents of alkenyl nitrenes, however, reactions capitalizing on the cyclic strain of the heterocyclic motif and involving the cleavage of the C? N single bond remain surprisingly limited. A gold‐catalyzed reaction that allows the formation of polysubstituted functionalized pyridines from easily accessible 2‐propargyl 2H‐azirine derivatives was developed. This transformation, which corresponds to an unprecedented intramolecular transfer of an alkenyl nitrene to an alkyne, proceeds with low catalyst loading, is efficient, and exhibits a high functional‐group tolerance and a wide substrate scope.     

Isolation of a Reactive Tricoordinate α‐Oxo Gold Carbene Complex

The [(P,P)Au=C(Ph)CO₂Et]⁺ complex 3 [where (P,P) is an o‐carboranyl diphosphine ligand] was prepared by diazo decomposition at ?40 °C. It is the first α‐oxo gold carbene complex to be characterized. Its crystallographic structure was determined and DFT calculations have been performed, unraveling the key influence of the chelating (P,P) ligand. The gold center is tricoordinate and the electrophilicity of the carbene center is decreased. Complex 3 mimics transient α‐oxo gold carbenes in a series of catalytic transformations, and provides support for the critical role of electrophilicity in the chemoselectivity of phenol functionalization (O?H vs. C?H insertion).     

1,2‐N‐Migration in a Gold‐Catalysed Synthesis of Functionalised Indenes by the 1,1‐Carboalkoxylation of Ynamides

Unique α‐hemiaminal ether gold carbene intermediates were accessed by a gold‐catalysed 1,1‐carboalkoxylation strategy and evolved through a highly selective 1,2‐N‐migration. This skeletal rearrangement gave functionalised indenes, and isotopic labelling confirmed the rare C?N bond cleavage of the ynamide moiety. The effect of substituents on the migration has been explored, and a model is proposed to rationalise the observed selectivity.     

Highly Regio‐, Diastereo‐, and Enantioselective Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Annulations with N‐Allenamides at the Proximal CC Bond

A highly enantioselective gold(I)‐catalyzed intermolecular annulation of 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones with N‐allenamides is presented. The present work represents the first example of a gold‐catalyzed annulation with the proximal C?C bond of an N‐allenamide, and is distinctly different from the previously observed annulations at the distal C?C bond. Interestingly, both enantiomers of the products could be obtained in good yields with high regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity by using either diastereomer of a binol‐derived phosphoramidite as a chiral ligand.     

Gold‐Catalyzed C(sp3)H/C(sp)H Coupling/Cyclization/Oxidative Alkynylation Sequence: A Powerful Strategy for the Synthesis of 3‐Alkynyl Polysubstituted Furans

In sharp contrast to the gold‐catalyzed reactions of alkynes/allenes with nucleophiles, gold‐catalyzed oxidative cross‐couplings and especially C? H/C? H cross‐coupling have been under represented. By taking advantage of the unique redox property and carbophilic π acidity of gold, this work realizes the first gold‐catalyzed direct C(sp³)? H alkynylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes under mild reaction conditions, with subsequent cyclization and in situ oxidative alkynylation. A variety of terminal alkynes including aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkyl, and cyclopropyl alkynes all successfully participate in the domino reaction. The protocol offers a simple and region‐defined approach to 3‐alkynyl polysubstituted furans.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Highly Selective Photoredox C(sp2)−H Difluoroalkylation and Perfluoroalkylation of Hydrazones

The first gold‐catalyzed photoredox C(sp²)?H difluoroalkylation and perfluoroalkylation of hydrazones with readily available R_F?Br reagents is reported. The resulting gem‐difluoromethylated and perfluoroalkylated hydrazones are highly functionalized, versatile molecules. A mild reduction of the coupling products can efficiently produce gem‐difluoromethylated β‐amino phosphonic acids and β‐amino acid derivatives. In mechanistic studies, a difluoroalkyl radical intermediate was detected by an EPR spin‐trapping experiment, indicating that a gold‐catalyzed radical pathway is operating.     

New Pathways for the Dual Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclization of Diynes

The reaction of thiophene‐based diynes with dual‐activation gold catalysts can provide cyclobutene derivatives or different polycycles by selective C?H insertion reactions. Also, the first σ,π‐digold diyne complex was obtained in a stoichiometric reaction, providing insight into the dual activation mechanism. The new products were unambiguously identified by X‐ray single‐crystal structure analysis.     

Single‐Crystal‐to‐Single‐Crystal Transformation and Solvochromic Luminescence of a Dinuclear Gold(I)–(Aza‐[18]crown‐6)dithiocarbamate Compound

The treatment of [AuCl(SMe₂)] with an equimolar amount of NaO₅NCS₂ (O₅NCS₂=(aza‐[18]crown‐6)dithiocarbamate) in CH₃CN gave [Au₂(O₅NCS₂)₂] ? 2 CH₃CN ( 2? 2 CH₃CN), and its crystal structure displays a dinuclear gold(I)‐azacrown ether ring and an intermolecular gold(I) ??? gold(I) contact of 2.8355(3) Å in crystal lattices. It is noted that two other single crystals of 2 ?tert‐butylbenzene?H₂O and 2? 0.5 m‐xylene can be successfully obtained from a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) transformation process by immersing single crystals of 2? 2 CH₃CN in the respective solvents, and both also show intermolecular gold(I) ??? gold(I) contacts of 2.9420(5) and 2.890(2)–2.902(2) Å, respectively. Significantly, the emissions of all three 2 ?solvates are well correlated with their respective intermolecular gold(I) ??? gold(I) contacts, where such contacts increase with 2? 2 CH₃CN (2.8355(3) Å)< 2? 0.5 m‐xylene (2.890(2)–2.902(2) Å)< 2? tert‐butylbenzene?H₂O (2.9420(5) Å), and their emission energies increase with 2? 2 CH₃CN (602 nm)< 2? 0.5 m‐xylene (583 nm)< 2? tert‐butylbenzene?H₂O (546 nm) as well. In this regard, we further examine the solvochromic luminescence for some other aromatics, and finally their emissions are within 546–602 nm. Obviously, the above results are mostly ascribed to the occurrence of intermolecular gold(I) ??? gold(I) contacts in 2 ?solvates, which are induced by the presence of various solvates in the solid state, as a key role to be responsible for their solvochromic luminescence.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed,Silyl‐Directed,peri‐Borylation of C−H Bonds in Fused Polycyclic Arenes and Heteroarenes

peri‐Disubstituted naphthalenes exhibit interesting physical properties and unique chemical reactivity, due to the parallel arrangement of the bonds to the two peri‐disposed substituents. Regioselective installation of a functional group at the position peri to 1‐substituted naphthalenes is challenging due to the steric interaction between the existing substituent and the position at which the second one would be installed. We report an iridium‐catalyzed borylation of the C?H bond peri to a silyl group in naphthalenes and analogous polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The reaction occurs under mild conditions with wide functional group tolerance. The silyl group and the boryl group in the resulting products are precursors to a range of functional groups bound to the naphthalene ring through C?C, C?O, C?N, C?Br and C?Cl bonds.     

Photochemical Reactions of Regioisomeric 2,2‐Dimethyl‐5,5‐diphenyl‐ and 5,5‐Dimethyl‐2,2‐diphenyl‐Substituted Diazo Ketones of a Tetrahydrofuran Series

The principal direction of conventional photolysis of the regioisomeric 2,2‐dimethyl‐5,5‐diphenyl‐ and 5,5‐dimethyl‐2,2‐diphenyl‐substituted 4‐diazodihydrofuran‐3(2H)‐ones 1a and 1b , respectively, is the Wolff rearrangement, while other photochemical processes, which are giving rise to the formation of C? H‐insertion, 1,2‐alkyl‐ or ‐aryl‐shifts, as well as H‐atom‐abstraction products occur to a much lower degree (Schemes 2 and 3). The ratio of similar reaction products from both regioisomers 1a and 1b is essentially independent of their structure, and a substantial effect of the relative position of the Ph and diazo group to each other on the yield of C? H‐insertion products does not occur. Based on stereochemical considerations, the Wolff rearrangement of diazodihydrofuran‐3(2H)‐ones apparently proceeds in a concerted manner, whereas the appearance in the reaction mixture of 1,2‐shift and H‐atom‐abstraction products points to the parallel generation during photolysis of singlet and triplet carbenes (Schemes 4 and 5).     

Synthesis of Highly Substituted γ‐Butyrolactones by a Gold‐Catalyzed Cascade Reaction of Benzyl Esters

Easily accessible benzylic esters of 3‐butynoic acids in a gold‐catalyzed cyclization/rearrangement cascade reaction provided 3‐propargyl γ‐butyrolactones with the alkene and the carbonyl group not being conjugated. Crossover experiments showed that the formation of the new C?C bond is an intermolecular process. Initially propargylic–benzylic esters were used, but alkyl‐substituted benzylic esters worked equally well. In the case of the propargylic–benzylic products, a simple treatment of the products with aluminum oxide initiated a twofold tautomerization to the allenyl‐substituted γ‐butyrolactones with conjugation of the carbonyl group, the olefin, and the allene. The synthetic sequence can be conducted stepwise or as a one‐pot cascade reaction with similar yields. Even in the presence of the gold catalyst the new allene remains intact.     

Gold Catalysis: One‐Pot Alkylideneoxazoline Synthesis/Alder‐Ene Reaction

Based on the gold‐catalyzed synthesis of methyleneoxazolines, a one‐pot combination with an Alder‐ene reaction was developed. For azodicarboxylates, good to very good yields (51–99 %) of the oxazolemethylhydrazinedicarboxylates were achieved with 3 mol % of the Gagosz catalyst, [Ph₃PAuNTf₃]. In a less‐selective reaction, 4‐phenyl‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3,5(4 H)‐dione gave lower yields (41–49 %) of the corresponding oxazolemethylphenyltriazolidinediones. Overall, five new bonds were formed. Tetracyanoethylene afforded a cyclobutane derivative through a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction at ?40 °C, but only 45 % of the spiro compound was obtained. The less‐readily available KITPHOS ligands on gold gave even higher yields at lower catalyst loadings (2 mol %), but longer reaction times were required.     

Gold‐catalyzed Reactions of 3‐Alkynyloxireno[2, 3‐b]chromenones to Form 3(2H)‐Furanones via a Domino Pathway

3(2H)‐Furanones are efficiently generated from 3‐alkynyl oxireno[2,3‐b]chromenones by an Au/DDQ‐catalyzed domino reaction through a pathway composed of cyclization, C? C cleavage, nucleophilic addition, oxidation, and nucleophilic addition. It was found that stoichiometric AuCl₃ or catalytic Au with stoichiometric DDQ can oxidize the benzylic sp³ C? H bond to facilitate nucleophilic addition.