The
gold-catalyzed domino cyclization/nucleophilic reaction of ortho-carbonylalkynylaryls has been studied. Thus, 2-(pyridin-2-ylethynyl)benzaldehyde
has been chosen to isolate key intermediates that may take part in
the reaction mechanism. Employing Hantzsch ester (HEH) as nucleophile,
it has been impossible to isolate the corresponding gold–alkenyl
specie; however, when methanol was used as solvent (and nucleophile),
the expected chelate gold–vinyl complex was isolated and unambiguously
characterized by X-ray analysis. When HEH is present in the alcoholic
reaction mixture, isotopic studies show that the cleavage of the Au–C
bond of gold–vinyl complex proceeds through a protodemetalation
pathway, rather than a plausible metal–hydride reductive elimination
mechanism. Finally, with the aim of broadening the scope of the cyclization/reduction
reaction previously reported, we present that the catalytic system
is robust and applicable for a diverse family of challenging substrates
presenting ester, aldehyde, ether, alkene, and alkyne functionalities.