Synthesis of functionalized oxazolones by a sequence of Cu(II)- and Au(I)-catalyzed transformations

A study concerning a two-step sequence leading to the formation of diversely 1,5-disubstituted oxazolones is described. The mild conditions employed allow the efficient and rapid synthesis of a variety of such compounds via an initial Cu(II)-catalyzed coupling of a bromoalkyne with a secondary tert-butyloxycarbamate followed by a Au(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of the N-alkynyl tert-butyloxycarbamates thus obtained.