title: Gold-catalyzed heterocycle synthesis using homopropargylic ethers as latent electrophiles.
abstract: [reaction: see text] Homopropargylic ethers with pendent nucleophiles, when subjected to Au catalysts in aqueous solvent, provide heterocyclic ketones. The reactions are efficient, tolerant of functionality and ambient atmosphere, and operationally simple. Diastereoselectivity can be predicted on the basis of product thermodynamics. This process demonstrates the viability of homopropargylic ethers to serve as latent electrophiles that can be unraveled under highly selective conditions to promote heterocycle formation through nucleophilic additions to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
authors.forename: Hyung Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Floreancig
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004987:Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D007659:Ketones / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D007659:Ketones; D006046:Gold