Gold(I) Catalysis Applied to the Stereoselective Synthesis of Indeno[2,1- b]thiochromene Derivatives and Seleno Analogues

Org Lett. 2022 Nov 4;24(43):8077-8082. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c03411. Epub 2022 Oct 24.

Abstract

A gold(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction for the stereoselective synthesis of sulfur- or selenium-containing indeno[1,2-b]chromene derivatives from o-(alkynyl)styrenes substituted at the triple bond with a thio- or seleno-aryl group is described. The reaction involves a double cyclization process through a proposed key gold-cyclopropyl carbene intermediate that evolves by the intramolecular addition of an aromatic to the cyclopropane ring, affording polycyclic structures. The enantioselective version was studied using gold(I) complexes bearing chiral ligands.