Au(III)-catalyzed tandem amination-hydration of alkynes: synthesis of α-(N-2-pyridonyl)ketones

A new Au(III)-catalyzed tandem amination-hydration reaction has been discovered, leading to the formation of α-(N-2-pyridonyl)ketones and heterocyclic analogues in good to excellent yields (14 examples, 48-90%). This reaction demonstrates the unusual use of a heterocyclic sp(2) nitrogen nucleophile in a gold-catalyzed 6-endo-dig cyclization. The tandem process allows rapid access to α-(N-2-pyridonyl)ketones, making them a convenient building block for the synthesis of more complex N-alkyl pyridone targets.     

Gold-catalyzed cascade cyclization-oxidative alkynylation of allenoates

A gold(I)-catalyzed cascade cyclization-oxidative cross-coupling process has been applied to prepare β-alkynyl-γ-butenolides directly from allenoates and various terminal alkynes. Following an initial gold-catalyzed C-O bond forming allenoate cyclization, a mechanism based on a Au(I)/Au(III) redox cycle has been proposed with Selectfluor acting as the external oxidant.     

Sequential alkylation/gold-catalyzed annulation reactions of anilines with propargylic bromide derivatives

Preliminary results of sequential alkylation/gold-catalyzed annulation reactions of anilines with propargylic bromide derivatives to provide quinoline scaffolds are described. The efficiency of NaAuCl₄·2H₂O in the sequential procedure was investigated and compared with different transition metal salts and Au(I) complexes. Selectivity of the reaction of aniline derivatives with propargylic bromides has also been investigated.     

Gold-catalyzed highly efficient access to 3(2H)-furanones from 2-oxo-3-butynoates and related compounds

[reaction: see text] The gold-catalyzed cyclization reactions of 2-oxo-3-butynoic esters or disubstituted-1,2-diones with a variety of nucleophiles are described, which offer an efficient and straightforward route to substituted 3(2H)-furanones under mild reaction conditions. The Au(III) catalysts are also highly effective in the hydration of these activated alkynes.     

Mechanistic insights into the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of bromoallenyl ketones: ligand-controlled regioselectivity

Through computational and experimental studies, the mechanisms of gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of bromoallenyl ketones in toluene have been elucidated. The divergent 1,2-migrations for the Au(I)- and Au(III)-catalyzed reactions have been investigated, and the results confirmed that the regiochemistry is ligand-dependent in cases of Au(PR3)L (L = Cl, OTf, BF4, and SbF6) catalysts.     

Room temperature Au(I)-catalyzed exo-selective cycloisomerization of acetylenic acids: an entry to functionalized gamma-lactones

A highly efficient gold-catalyzed cyclization reaction of various functionalized acetylenic acids is described. The cyclizations are conducted in the presence of Au(I) catalyst in acetonitrile at room temperature in a short reaction time. The reaction conditions are compatible with several functional groups, such as ester, alkene, alkyne, chloro, and free or protected alcohol, and lead to original gamma-lactones in good to excellent yields.     

Recent applications of gold-catalyzed cascade reactions in total synthesis of natural product

From the point of the view of the synthetic efficiency, the concept ‘step economy’ was required in total synthesis of natural product. Recently, versatile gold-catalyzed cascade reactions have been developed, and relating reports on practical applications in total synthesis has increased. This digest focuses and summarizes the gold-catalyzed reaction cascades in natural product synthesis during last five years with brief discussion on the reaction mechanism of the key gold-catalyzed cascade transformations.     

Sequential catalytic process: synthesis of quinoline derivatives by AuCl3/CuBr-catalyzed three-component reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes

A sequential catalytic process has been developed based on gold-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of terminal alkynes to imines, and gold-catalyzed intramolecular reaction of aromatic ring to alkynes. This one-pot reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes gives quinoline derivatives in good yields.     

Triazole-gold (TAAu) catalyzed three-component coupling (A3 reaction) towards the synthesis of 2, 4-disubstituted quinoline derivatives

A gold-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction (A3 reaction) was developed as an efficient approach for the synthesis of challenging 2,4-disubstituted quinoline derivatives. Compared to previously reported Cu/Au bi-catalyst system, this protocol enables achieving A3 reaction only in the presence of triazole-gold catalyst. Notably, 4-alkyl substituted or 2-alkyl substituted quinoline derivatives were obtained with good yields, which highlighted the unique advantage of this new strategy.     

Alkyne versus allene activation in platinum- and gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of hydroxylated 1,5-allenynes

Chemo- and stereoselective transformations of 3-hydroxy-1,5-allenynes 1 into a variety of new and potentially useful cyclic compounds have been achieved. Substrates bearing a silyl group at the alkyne moiety undergo purely thermal or Lewis acid catalyzed Alder-ene type transformations into 2-methylene-3-vinylcyclopent-3-enol derivatives 2. When heated in the presence of a catalytic amount of PtCl(2) or PtCl(4), these incipient cyclopentenols could be further transformed into 3-vinylcyclopent-2-enones 3. On the other hand, alkyl-substituted 3-hydroxy-1,5-allenynes proved to be stable under refluxing conditions. Nevertheless, PtCl(2) and PtCl(4) could selectively activate the alkyne moiety of these substrates toward intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the internal allene double bond to yield unprecedented 6-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-3-one derivatives 4. With gold-based catalysts, provided that the reaction is carried out in dichloromethane, both Au(I) and Au(III) complexes selectively activate the allene fragment of the substrates toward intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the hydroxyl group to yield 2-ethynyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans 5. Compounds of type 4 can also be formed with Au(I) and Au(III) complexes if the reaction is carried out in toluene. The reactivity of these new compounds has been partially investigated, and polycyclic ketones were obtained after oxidation under mild conditions or gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization.     

Stereospecific access to bridged [n.2.1] skeletons through gold-catalyzed tandem reaction of indolyl homopropargyl amides

An efficient gold-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov cycloisomerization-initiated tandem reaction of Boc-protected indole tethered homopropargyl amides has been achieved. This method delivers a wide range of valuable bridged aza-[n.2.1] skeletons (n = 3–7) at room temperature with high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity by a chirality-transfer strategy. Moreover, the gold-catalyzed tandem reaction of homopropargyl alcohol is also achieved to produce the bridged oxa-[3.2.1] skeleton.     

A novel fluorescent probe for Au(III)/Au(I) ions based on an intramolecular hydroamination of a Bodipy derivative and its application to bioimaging

A novel fluorescent probe for gold ions (Au(3+)/Au(+)) is reported through blocking photoinduced electron transfer, in which a boron dipyrromethene (Bodipy) derivative reveals high selectivity and sensitivity in a gold-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination, and is successfully applied to fluorescence imaging of Au(3+) in living cells.     

Enantioselective Nickel-Catalyzed Migratory Hydrocyanation of Nonconjugated Dienes

Metal-catalyzed chain-walking reactions have recently emerged as a powerful strategy to functionalize remote positions in organic molecules. However, a chain-walking protocol for nonconjugated dienes remains scarcely reported, and developments are currently ongoing. In this Communication, a nickel-catalyzed asymmetric hydrocyanation of nonconjugated dienes involving a chain-walking process is demonstrated. The reaction exhibits excellent regio- and chemoselectivity, and a wide range of substrates were tolerated, delivering the products in high yields and enantioselectivities. Deuterium-labeling experiments support the chain-walking process, which involves an iterative β-H elimination and reinsertion processes. Gram-scale synthesis, regioconvergent experiments, and downstream transformations gave further insights into the high potential of this transformation.     

Use of ionic liquids in the platinum- and gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enyne systems

The platinum- and gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enyne systems has been carried out in various ionic liquids (ILs). In some cases, better selectivities and shorter reaction times have been observed compared to conventional conditions.     

Gold-catalyzed reactions of 2-alkynyl-phenylamines with alpha,beta-enones

[reaction: see text] The gold-catalyzed reaction of 2-alkynyl-phenylamines with alpha,beta-enones represents a new general one-pot entry into C-3-alkyl-indoles by sequential reactions. Gold-catalyzed sequential cyclization/alkylation, N-alkylation/cyclization, or N-alkylation/cyclization/alkylation reactions leading to different indoles can be directed by changing the 2-alkynyl-phenylamine 1/alpha,beta-enone 3 ratio and the reaction temperature. Unusual gold-catalyzed rearrangement reaction of indoles are observed at 140 degrees C. New gold-catalyzed formation of propargyl-alkyl ether under mild conditions and the hydration reaction of N-acetyl-2-ethynyl-phenylamine are reported.     

Gold-catalyzed simultaneous formation of C-C, C═O, and C-F bonds in the presence of Selectfluor: a synthesis of fluoroindenes from allene esters

An approach for the synthesis of fluorinated indene derivatives has been developed via a gold-catalyzed three-component tandem reaction between allene esters, Selectfluor, and water.     

Gold-catalyzed ketene dual functionalization and mechanistic insights: divergent synthesis of indenes and benzo[d]oxepines

An unprecedented gold-catalyzed ketene C=O/C=C bifunctionalization method has been developed. Mechanistic studies and density function theory(DFT) calculations indicate that the reaction is initiated by gold-catalyzed Wolff rearrangement of diazoketone to form the ketene intermediate, followed by intermolecular nucleophilic addition and terminated with two divergent cyclization processes via enol intermediates. In the case with alcohols as the nucleophiles, the reaction goes through a C-5-endodig carbocyclization to give the indene products; whereas, O-7-endo-dig cyclization occurs dominantly when indoles/pyrroles are used as the nucleophiles, delivering the 7-membered benzo[d]oxepines. In comparison with the well-documented cycloaddition and nucleophilic addition reactions, this cascade reaction features a novel reaction pattern for the ketene dual functionalization through addition with nucleophile and electrophile in sequence.     

Gold-catalyzed amide synthesis from aldehydes and amines in aqueous medium

An efficient gold-catalyzed amide synthesis from aldehydes and amines in aqueous medium under mild reaction conditions has been developed.     

Effects of haloniums on gold-catalyzed ring expansion of 1-oxiranyl-1-alkynylcyclopropanes

We observed distinct chemoselectivities for the gold-catalyzed transformation of cis-1-oxiranyl-1-alkynylcyclopropanes 1 into various halogenated products in the presence of suitable Au(III) catalysts and N-halosuccinimide (halo = chloro, bromo and iodo).     

Heterogeneous gold-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of propargylic acetates with arylboronic acids leading to (E)-α-arylenones

An efficient heterogeneous gold-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of propargylic acetates with arylboronic acids has been developed that proceeds smoothly in the presence of Selectfluor and provides a general and powerful tool for the preparation of various valuable α-arylenones with moderate to good yields, excellent E-selectivity, and recyclability of the gold catalyst. The reaction is the first example of heterogeneous gold-catalyzed arylative rearrangement of propargylic acetates for construction of complex enones.