Gold-Catalyzed Intermolecular Reactions of Propiolic Acids with Alkenes: [4+2] Annulation and Enyne Cross Metathesis

A gold-catalyzed intermolecular reaction of propiolic acids with alkenes led to a [4 + 2] annulation or enyne cross metathesis. The [4 + 2] annulation proceeds with net cis-addition with respect to alkenes and provides an expedient route to alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactones, for which preliminary asymmetric reactions were also demonstrated. For 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, unprecedented enyne cross metathesis occurred to give I,3-dienes in a completely stereospecific fashion. DFT calculations and experiments indicated that the cyclobutene derivatives are not viable intermediates and that the steric interactions during concerted sigma-bond rearrangements are responsible for the observed unique stereospecificity.