The mechanisms and origins of multiple-site selectivities versatile gold(iii)-catalyzed annulations alkynes with anthranils are theoretically unraveled.

A Rh complex of a bulky diarylamino-based PNP pincer ligand is a robust catalyst for the dimerization of terminal alkynes and highly selective for the trans-enyne product.

Round and round: An unusual cobalt-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective reductive [3+2] cycloaddition of cyclic enones with alkynes affording bicyclic tertiary alcohols is described. A possible mechanism involving the formation of a cobaltacyclopentene intermediate is proposed.

It has been established that a cationic gold(I)/(R)-DTBM-Segphos or (R)-BINAP complex catalyzes the atropselective intramolecular hydroarylation of alkynes leading to enantioenriched axially chiral 4-aryl-2-quinolinones and 4-arylcoumarins with up to 61% ee.

Treatment of dialkylbenzylsilane (1) with trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (TPFPB) in the presence of terminal or internal alkynes (3) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine gave the corresponding 1,2-dihydro-2-silanaphthalene derivatives (4) in 34-82% yields.

[3+2] Cycloaddition of azomethine imines with electron-deficient terminal alkynes was smoothly catalyzed by a chiral bis(imidazolidine)pyridine-CuOAc complex to give bicyclic pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazolone derivatives with up to 74% ee.

Palladium-catalysed cis- and trans-silaboration of terminal alkynes has been developed via the addition of (chlorodimethylsilyl)pinacolborane, followed by a one-pot conversion of the chloro group on the silicon atom to an isopropoxy group.

Gold catalysts have been found to catalyze the tandem assembly of arynes and terminal alkynes efficiently in the presence of CuI under mild reaction conditions to provide useful alkynylated biphenyl derivatives.

This paper describes the synthesis of dithioindoles from the free-radical cyclizations of arylisonitriles having pendant alkynes. Also described is the synthesis of substituted indoles and spiro-fused indoles from the coupling of dithioindoles with active hydrogen-containing compounds.