Entry to β-alkoxyacrylates via gold-catalyzed intermolecular coupling of alkynoates and allylic ethers

Org Lett. 2013 Mar 15;15(6):1166-9. doi: 10.1021/ol4001087. Epub 2013 Feb 27.

Abstract

The first gold-catalyzed intermolecular coupling of alkynoates and allylic ethers invoking alkoxy addition and [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement as the key mechanism has been developed. Remarkably, the reaction showed complete chemoselectivity toward the pathway initiated by the alkoxy addition to alkynes. This unprecedented reactivity led to a new access to diversely substituted β-alkoxyacrylates in a highly efficient manner.