Combining Gold and Palladium Catalysis: One-Pot Access to Pentasubstituted Arenes from Furan-Yne and En-Diyne Substrates

Catalytic Arylative Endo Cyclization of Gold Acetylides: Access to 3,4-Diphenyl Isoquinoline, 2,3-Diphenyl Indole, and Mesoionic Normal NHC-Gold Complex

3,4-Diphenyl isoquinoline and 2,3-diphenyl indole are readily accessed by catalytic selective bis-arylative endo cyclization of gold acetylides. The synthetic approach could be also extended to prepare six-membered mesoionic NHC complex, which could further undergo deprotonation/complexation to afford 1,3-N-heterocyclic dicarbene (NHDCs) Au₂ and Au/Ag complexes. The key vicinal diaurated alkene intermediates have been isolated and the studies on their reactivities towards coupling partners reinforce the proposed mechanisms.

From Furan–Yne Systems to para-Benzoquinone Derivatives: Gold-Catalyzed Cyclization and Oxidation, and Further Reduction by Sodium Dithionate

A series of furan–yne systems were transformed into the corresponding para-benzoquinone derivatives by gold(ΙΙΙ) catalyst. The two-step procedure consisted of a phenol synthesis and subsequent oxidation with iodobenzene diacetate. The reactions can be carried out in a one-pot procedure with the same precatalyst. The para-benzoquinone could simply be converted into the corresponding hydroquinones by reduction with sodium dithionate. This protocol features high efficiency, mild conditions, and wide substrate scopes.

Synthesis and Rhodium(II)-Mediated Cascade Cyclopropanation/Rearrangement/Isomerization of Diazo 2,3,5-Trisubstituted Furans: The Construction of Penta-substituted Aromatic Compounds

Ag(I)-catalyzed synthesis of diazo-trisubstituted furans starting from diazo-cumulated allenyl ketones has been investigated. The Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed reaction of the diazo 2,3,5-trisubstituted furans provided penta-substituted aromatics via cascade intermolecular cyclopropanation/rearrangement/isomerization. The cyclopropanation on the furan ring/rearrangement of cyclopropane moiety has been reported. A reasonable mechanism is proposed.

Divergent gold-catalysed reactions of cyclopropenylmethyl sulfonamides with tethered heteroaromatics

Cyclopropenylmethyl sulfonamides with tethered heteroaromatics have been demonstrated to undergo divergent gold-catalysed cyclisation reactions. A formal dearomative (4+3) cycloaddition takes place with furan-tethered substrates, yielding densely functionalised 5,7-fused heterocycles related to the bioactive curcusone natural products. Indole-tethered substrates display divergent reactivity giving biologically important tetrahydro-β-carbolines via a Friedel-Crafts mechanism.

Benzene construction via Pd-catalyzed cyclization of 2,7-alkadiynylic carbonates in the presence of alkynes

A palladium-catalyzed highly regio- and chemo-selective cyclization of 2,7-alkadiynylic carbonates with functionalized alkynes to construct 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran and isoindoline derivatives under mild conditions has been developed. Functional groups such as alcohol, sulfonamide, and indoles could be well tolerated. After careful mechanistic studies, a mechanism involving oxidative addition and regioselectivity-defined double alkyne insertions has been proposed.

Recent Advances in Phthalan and Coumaran Chemistry

Oxygen-containing heterocycles are common in biologically active compounds. In particular, phthalan and coumaran cores are found in pharmaceuticals, organic electronics, and other useful medical and technological applications. Recent research has expanded the methods available for their synthesis. This Minireview presents recent advances in the chemistry of phthalans and coumarans, with the goal of overcoming synthetic challenges and facilitating the applications of phthalans and coumarans.

The synthesis of cycloalka[b]furans via an Au(i)-catalyzed tandem reaction of 3-yne-1,2-diols

A rapid and convenient approach toward substituted cycloalka[b]furan compounds has been developed via an Au(i)-catalyzed cyclization/1,2-rearrangement/aromatization cascade.

Addressing stability challenges of using bimetallic electrocatalysts: the case of gold–palladium nanoalloys

Studying changes in surface composition of bimetallic (AuPd) catalysts under dealloying is of key importance for predicting their stability during application.

Gold-catalysed reactions of diynes

In this critical review the reactivity patterns observed with different types of diyne substrates in gold catalysis are discussed. Apart from the many examples from homogeneous catalysis, the few examples from heterogeneous gold catalysis are also included. With a proper arrangement of the two alkynes unique and exciting reactivity patterns like 1,3-carbonyl transpositions, carbene transfer reactions, cascade annulations, macrocyclisations or the formation of gold vinylidene intermediates are observed. These reactions are of interest for organic synthesis, for pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry and for material science.

Hydroacenes Made Easy by Gold(I) Catalysis

A novel strategy for the synthesis of partially saturated acene derivatives has been developed based on a Au^I‐catalyzed cyclization of 1,7‐enynes. This method provides straightforward access to stable polycyclic products featuring the backbone of the acene series, up to nonacene.

Successive Cu/Pd transmetalation relay catalysis in stereoselective synthesis of tetraarylethenes

A new and efficient strategy for the synthesis of tetraaryl-substituted olefins with two cis furans based on a Cu/Pd catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction of cyclopropene with internal alkyne was developed. These novel tetraarylethenes were fully characterized and proved to be good AIE luminogens.

Sequential one-pot approach for the synthesis of functionalized phthalans via Heck-reduction–cyclization (HRC) reactions

An efficient and practical method is described for the direct synthesis of 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans, an important structural motif present in biologically active natural or synthetic compounds.

A gold-catalyzed 1,2-acyloxy migration/intramolecular cyclopropanation/ring enlargement cascade: syntheses of medium-sized heterocycles

A gold catalyzed 1,2-acyloxy migration/intramolecular cyclopropanation/ring enlargement cascade of furan substrates provides a new highly efficient procedure for the formation of ten and eleven-membered ring compounds. A new transformation type of intermolecular furan compound catalyzed by a gold catalyst was reported.

Rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of multi-substituted furans from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles bearing a tethered carbonyl group

The efficient synthesis of highly functionalized furan derivatives from 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with a pendent carbonyl group is reported. The process involves an intramolecular trapping of α-imino carbene and subsequent aromatization.

Rationale for the sluggish oxidative addition of aryl halides to Au(I)

The oxidative addition of Csp(2)-Br or Csp(2)-I bonds to gold(I) does not take place even under very favorable intramolecular conditions that could form five- or six-membered gold(III) metallacycles. DFT calculations reveal that although this process could be feasible thermodynamically, it is kinetically very sluggish.