Mo-Au Combo Catalysis in 1,3-Rearrange-ment of Propargyl Alcohols

Significance

A novel combinatorial catalytic system made up of MoO₂(acac)₂, AuCl(PPh₃) and AgOTf was successfully applied to the 1,3-rearrangement of propargyl alcohols resulting in various α,β-unsaturated ketones, aldehydes, amides and esters. The rearrangement proceeded with excellent generality (primary, secondary and tertiary propargyl alcohols are converted!) and gave good to excellent yields. Good diastereoselectivities were also observed in the rearrangement reactions of tertiary and secondary propargyl alcohols yielding preferably the corresponding E-isomers.