Gold-catalyzed Intermolecular Oxidations of 2-Ketonyl-1-ethynyl Benzenes with N-Hydoxyanilines to Yield 2-Aminoindenones via Gold Carbene Intermediates.

Gold-catalyzed oxidations of 2-ketonyl-1-ethynyl benzenes with N-hydroxyanilines yield 2-aminoindenone derivatives efficiently. Experimental data suggests that this process involves an α-oxo gold carbene intermediate, generated from the attack of N-hydroxyaniline on furylgold carbene intermediate, rather than the typical attack of oxidants on π-alkynes.