Gold-catalyzed intramolecular carbocyclization of alkynyl ketones leading to highly substituted cyclic enones

The reaction of the internal alkynyl ketones 1 (n = 1) under the combined catalyst, AUCl(3) and AgSbF6, gave the enones 2 in good to high yields, whereas that of the terminal alkynyl ketones 1 (n = 0) under the combined catalyst, AuCl3 and AgOTf, afforded the cyclic enones 3.