Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 3‐Methoxy‐1,6‐enynes Featuring Tandem Cyclization and [3,3]‐Sigmatropic Rearrangement

Golden reactivity: A new gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 3-methoxy-1,6-enynes was discovered. Structurally simple 3-methoxy-1,6-enynes engage in a tandem cyclization/[3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to deliver a variety of 1-methoxy-1,4-cycloheptadienes (see scheme). Notably, the reaction can be performed under very mild conditions and the synthetic utility of this reaction was demonstrated by facile conversion of the product into various cyclohept-4-en-1-ones.