From Straightforward Gold(I)-Catalyzed Enyne Cyclizations to More Demanding Intermolecular Reactions of Alkynes with Alkenes

Abstract

Gold(I) complexes are the catalysts of choice for the selective activation of alkynes in the presence of other unsaturated functional groups. In this account, we present the development of gold(I)-catalyzed intermolecular reactions of terminal alkynes with functionalized alkenes. In particular, we focus on the synthesis of cyclobutenes by asymmetric gold(I)-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition and its applications.