A gold(I)‐catalyzed cascade cyclization–alkynylation of allenoates using alkynyl bromide to generate β‐alkynyl‐γ‐butenolides was investigated. Whereas alkynyl iodides afforded significant amounts of the homo‐coupling of two lactone units, alkynyl bromides led to a selective reaction, and a broad functional group tolerance was observed. Under the optimized reaction conditions, it was possible to directly synthesize a large range of β‐alkynyl‐γ‐butenolides in moderate to good yields without the need for any external oxidant.
Polymerization of styrene, 4-methoxystyrene, and n-butylvinylether was achieved using simple AuCl as catalyst and AgPF6 as cocatalyst. High molecular weights and low polydispersity indices were obtained. Evidence for a cationic mechanism was obtained by reactions with nucleophiles. The mechanistic study also indicates a living polymerization with the gold(i)–alkene complex as the resting species.
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