Gold Catalysis: First Applications of Cationic Binuclear Gold(I) Complexes and the First Intermolecular Reaction of an Alkyne with a Furan

Abstract

Abstract Reaction of the cationic binuclear gold(I) complex [(Ph 3 PAu) 2 Cl]BF 4 with ω‐alkynylfurans furnished phenols as the major product and anellated furans as the side‐products. The analogous trimesitylphosphane complex [(Mes 3 PAu) 2 Cl]BF 4 selectively afforded only the phenols. The latter catalyst then enabled the first intermolecular gold‐catalyzed phenol synthesis.