Gold(III) Salen complex-catalyzed synthesis of propargylamines via a three-component coupling reaction.

[reaction: see text] Propargylamines have been synthesized by a gold(III) salen complex-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes in water in excellent yields at 40 degrees C. With chiral prolinol derivatives as the amine component, excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) have been attained. This coupling reaction has been applied to the synthesis of propargylamine-modified artemisinin derivatives with the delicate endoperoxide moieties remaining intact. Cytotoxicities with IC(50) values up to 1.1 microM against a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) were exhibited by these artemisinin derivatives.