Metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enyne functionalities via a 1,3-alkylidene migration.

We report a new metal-catalyzed 6-endo-dig cyclization of cis-4,6-dien-1-yn-3-ols, which produces substituted benzene and naphthalene derivatives with structural reorganization. In this process, we observe a 1,3-alkylidene migration via cleavage of the olefin double bond of the starting substrates. The ease and reliability of this cyclization are manifested by its compatibility with a wide array of diverse substrates and several pi-alkyne activators, including PtCl2, Zn(OTf)2, AuCl, and AuCl3.