A new mechanistic pathway of propargylic alcohol activation
by
gold(I) catalysis has been proposed toward the efficient synthesis
of N-protected pyrroles, 5,6-dihydropyridin-3(4H)-ones
from N-protected 5-aminopent-2-yn-1-ol, and 5-aminopent-2-yn-1-ol.
Control experiments support that the reaction proceeded via the neighboring
group participation of the oxygen atom of propargylic alcohol to form
an allene oxide intermediate where the nucleophilic heteroatom attacks
intramolecularly. Further, this methodology is successfully extrapolated
toward the atom-economic synthesis of hydroxyalkyl indoles and benzofurans.
The short reaction time of 30 s, low catalyst loading of 0.5 mol %,
high yield, variation in the substrate scope, and procedurally simple
open-flask reaction conditions make this methodology highly applied.