Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement of propargyl vinyl ethers: cascading molecular rearrangements

The ambivalent reactivity of 2-alkoxycarbonyl-substituted propargyl vinyl ethers has been explored. Depending on the conditions, the catalyzed and uncatalyzed Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement triggers downstream transformations that cascade from initially formed γ-allenyl α-keto esters to highly substituted furanes and cyclopentenes. In support of a mechanistic hypothesis, the results of a DFT study using the B1B95 and B3LYP functionals are revealed.