α,β-Unsaturated Gold(I) Carbenes by Tandem Cyclization and 1,5-Alkoxy Migration of 1,6-Enynes: Mechanisms and Applications

Abstract

1,6-Enynes bearing OR groups at the propargyl position generate α,β-unsaturated gold(I)-carbenes/ gold(I) stabilized allyl cations that can be trapped by alkenes to form cyclopropanes or 1,3-diketones to give products of α-alkylation. The best migrating group is p-nitrophenyl ether, which leads to the corresponding products without racemization. Thus, an improved formal synthesis of (+)-schisanwilsonene A has been accomplished. The different competitive reaction pathways have been delineated computationally.

Keywords: cycloisomerization; cyclopropanation; density functional calculations; gold; rearrangement.