Tuning the reactivity of Au-complexes in an Au(i)/chiral Brønsted acid cooperative catalytic system: an approach to optically active fused 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines

An enantioselective cooperative catalysis protocol, utilizing achiral Au(I) complexes and chiral Brønsted acids, has been developed for the synthesis of optically pure fused 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines starting from 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes and 2-aminobenzamides.