AuCl3-Catalyzed Benzannulation:  Synthesis of Naphthyl Ketone Derivatives from o-Alkynylbenzaldehydes with Alkynes

The reaction of o-alkynylbenzaldehydes 1 and alkynes 2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of AuCl3 in (CH2Cl)2 at 80 degrees C gave naphthyl ketone products in high yields. The AuCl3-catalyzed formal 4 + 2 benzannulation proceeds most probably through the coordination of the triple bond of 1 to AuCl3, the formation of benzocpyrylium auric ate complex via the nucleophilic addition of the carbonyl oxygen atom, the Diels-Alder addition of alkynes 2 to the auric ate complex, and subsequent bond rearrangement. Similarly, the AuCl3-catalyzed reactions of o-alkynylacetophenone and o-alkynylbenzophenone with phenylacetylene afforded the corresponding naphthyl ketone products in good yields.