Gold-Catalyzed Regiospecific Hydration of N-Tosyl Propargylic Amines

A gold-catalyzed regiospecific hydration of N-tosyl propargylic amines has been developed. In the presence of a catalytic amount of the gold catalyst NaAuCl4 center dot 2H(2)O, both alkyl and aryl-substituted N-tosyl propargylic amines were smoothly converted into the corresponding beta-amino ketones with excellent regioselectivities and high yields (up to 85%). Further transformations of the obtained beta-amino ketones to valuable 1,3-amino alcohols were demonstrated as well.