In the presence of Ph 3 PAuNTf 2 , 8-methylquinoline-N-oxide and MsOH, various of terminal alkynes were efficiently converted into the corresponding α-acetoxy ketones. The influences of oxidant, catalyst structure, catalyst loading and reaction media on the reaction were investigated, and the optimal reaction conditions were also obtained. The reaction is proposed to proceed via α-oxo gold carbene intermolecular reaction with acetic acids. The reaction method with its advantages of simple procedure, mild reaction conditions and high yield provides a novel valuable approach to α-acetoxy ketones from terminal alkynes.

In the presence of catalytic amount of cesium hydroxide, the hydroselenation of terminal alkynes occurred in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at room temperature under nitrogen atmosphere to afford (E)-1-organseleno-1-alkene in high yields. The reaction mechanism is that selenols reacted with cesium hydroxide to give cesium selenides, which underwent nucleophilic addition to the alkynes to form selenium vinylic anion, hydrolyzed to give product (E)-1-organoselenovinylene and catalyst cesium hydroxide. The method could provide a new and expedient way for the hydroselenation of unactivated alkynes.