On the Impact of Steric and Electronic Properties of Ligands on Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cycloaddition Reactions

It is shown that [4 + 3] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition pathways are accessible in the Au(I) catalysis of allene-dienes. Seven-membered ring gold-stabilized carbenes, originating from the [4 + 3] cycloaddition process, are unstable and can rearrange via a 1,2-H or a 1,2-alkyl shift to yield six- and seven-membered products. Both steric and electronic properties of the AuL(+) catalyst affect the electronic structure of the intermediate gold-stabilized carbene and its subsequent reactivity.