Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.130, No.12, 3736-3736, 2008
Fluorenes and styrenes by Au(I)-catalyzed annulation of enynes and alkynes
Intermolecular annulation of enynes and propargyl esters to selectively produce styrenes or fluorenes is reported. The divergent arene syntheses involve a Au-catalyzed, two-pot, multistep process proceeding cis-diastereoselective cyclopropanation, cycloisomerization, and, finally, annulation or elimination.