Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Formation of Benzo[<i>b</i>]furans from 3‐Silyloxy‐1,5‐enynes

Abstract

Sport of kings: A new gold(I)-catalyzed transformation has been developed that occurs under mild conditions and proceeds by an expected substituent “castling” (see red and blue circles in scheme) to give efficient access to benzo[b]furans from the easy to obtain 3-silyloxy-1,5-enynes (IPr=N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, NTf2=bis(trifluoromethylsulfonylimide).