Intermolecular hydroamination of allenes with N-unsubstituted carbamates catalyzed by a gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complex

Reaction of 2,3-pentadienyl benzoate with benzyl carbamate catalyzed by a 1:1 mixture of (NHC)AuCl and AgOTf in dioxane at 23 degrees C for 5 h led to isolation of (E)-4-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-2-pentenyl benzoate in 84% yield as a single regio- and diastereomer. Gold(I)-catalyzed hydroamination was effective for a number of N-unsubstituted carbamates and a range of substituted allenes.