The gold-catalyzed cyclization of 2,2-bis(3-arylprop-2-yn1-yl)malonic acid has been proposed as an efficient approach to substituted 3,8-dibenzyl-2,7-dioxaspiro[4.4]nonane-1,6-diones. The reaction proceeds smoothly in mild reaction conditions to give the desired products in quantitative yields in the presence of variously substituted starting materials. In addition, the synthesis of γ-arylidene spirobislactone bearing different substituents on the two aromatic rings has been achieved. This kind of compound could be of great interest in pharmaceutical science given the widespread presence of this scaffold in bioactive natural and synthetic products.
Keywords: Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization; alkyne activation; heterocyclization; spiro compounds; spirobislactone; spirolactone.