Au-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of 2-(1-alkynyl-cyclopropyl)pyridines with nucleophiles

A novel method for the C-C bond cleavage of cyclopropanes was developed by gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 2-(1-alkynyl-cyclopropyl)pyridine with nucleophiles, which provides efficient access to structurally diverse indolizines under mild conditions. A series of N-, C- and O-based nucleophiles were involved in this reaction to afford the corresponding indolizines in modest to excellent yields.