Gold(I)-Catalyzed and H2O-Mediated Carbene Cascade Reaction of Propargyl Diazoacetates: Furan Synthesis and Mechanistic Insights

Org Lett. 2018 Sep 7;20(17):5332-5335. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b02251. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Abstract

A novel gold-catalyzed water-mediated carbene cascade reaction of propargyl diazoacetates has been developed. Mechanistic investigation indicates that this reaction is initiated by gold-catalyzed gold-carbene formation followed by an unprecedented 6- endo-dig carbocyclization with tethered alkyne through an oxonium ylide intermediate, terminated by a β-H elimination/protodeauration process to give the aromatized furan products in good to high yields with broad substrate generality. Notably, the proposed gold-carbene intermediates are verified by interception experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't