Cationic Goid(I)-Mediated Intramolecular Cyclization of 3-Alkyne-1,2-diols and 1-Amino-3-alkyn-2-ols: A Practical Route to Furans and Pyrroles

The intramolecular cyclizations of the 3-alkyne-1,2-diols and the 1-amino-3-alkyn-2-ols with a low catalyst loading (0.05-0.5 mol %) of (Ph3P)AuCl-AgNTf2 or (Ph3P)AuCl-AgOTf proceeded at room temperature to provide a variety of substituted furans and pyrroles in excellent yields (85-98% yields). This method is also fully applicable to the conversion of several dozen grams of the substrate using only 0.05 mol % each of the Au and Ag catalysts.