The cationic N-heterocyclic carbene-gold(I) complex catalyzes the formation of tri- and tetrasubstituted pyrroles via the amino-Claisen rearrangement of N-propargyl beta-enaminone derivatives and the cyclization of alpha-allenyl beta-enaminone intermediates.

The metal-free [2 + 2 + 1] annulation of alkynes, nitriles, and O-atoms for the regioselective assembly of 2,4-disubstituted and 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazole compounds has been achieved by the use of PhIO with TfOH or Tf2NH. The present reaction could be applied to a facile synthesis of an anti-inflammatory drug.

Catalytic SbF5 and the use of EtOH as an additive efficiently converted a mixture of phenylalkynes and aldehydes to indanone compounds in one pot, and the reaction stereoselectively afforded the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted indanones as a single trans-isomer.

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