Gold catalysis: First applications of cationic binuclear gold(I) complexes and the first intermolecular reaction of an alkyne with a furan

Reaction of the cationic binuclear gold(1) complex [(Ph3PAu)(2)Cl]BF4 with w-alkynylfurans furnished phenols as the major product and anellated furans as the side-products. The analogous trimesityl-phosphane complex [(Mes(3)PAu)(2)Cl]BF4 selectively afforded only the phenols. The latter catalyst then enabled the first intermolecular gold-catalyzed phenol synthesis.