[reaction: see text] In a convenient one-pot process, easily accessed propargyl vinyl ethers and aromatic amines are effectively converted into tetra- and pentasubstituted 5-methylpyrroles which can further be transformed into 5-formylpyrroles via IBX-mediated oxidation. The cascade reaction proceeds through a silver(I)-catalyzed propargyl-Claisen rearrangement, an amine condensation, and a gold(I)-catalyzed 5-exo-dig heterocyclization.

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A combination of gold(I) complexes and amine bases catalyzes the 5-exo-dig cyclization of formyl alkynes. This direct alpha-functionalization of aldehydes with unactivated alkynes does not involve the use of preformed enol equivalents.

We have developed a nickel-catalyzed method for the asymmetric cross-coupling of secondary electrophiles with secondary nucleophiles, specifically, stereoconvergent Negishi reactions of racemic benzylic bromides with achiral cycloalkylzinc reagents. In contrast to most previous studies of enantioselective Negishi cross-couplings, tridentate pybox ligands are ineffective in this process; however, a new, readily available bidentate isoquinoline-oxazoline ligand furnishes excellent ee's and good yields. The use of acyclic alkylzinc reagents as coupling partners led to the discovery of a highly unusual isomerization that generates a significant quantity of a branched cross-coupling product from an unbranched nucleophile.

Au‐spicious! Under silver‐free conditions, simple 3‐silyloxy‐1,5‐enynes were converted into complex cyclopentenes by a gold(I)‐catalyzed sequence that likely proceeds through a carbocyclization followed by a pinacol rearrangement. For the final demetalation step, isopropyl alcohol and N‐iodosuccinimide are effectively utilized, and the resulting products are set up for a wealth of further reactions.