Gold and platinum catalyzed cascade reaction of propargyl acetates bearing terminal alkynes or methyl ketones

A gold (III)-catalyzed cascade reaction of propargyl acetates bearing an extra terminal alkyne (1) afforded γ-keto esters 3 and lactones 4. These products should be generated through allenyl ketone intermediate B via a 1,2-acyloxy cyclization/fragmentation/cycloisomerization/hydrolysis sequence. On the other hand, the cascade reaction of α-acetoxy ketones bearing terminal alkynes 5 afforded lactone 6 via allenyl ketone intermediate A. This reaction involves a [3,3]-sigmatropic acyloxy rearrangement/cycloisomerization/hydrolysis sequence.

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