Using triethynylphosphine ligands bearing bulky end caps to create a holey catalytic environment: application to gold(I)-catalyzed alkyne cyclizations.

The synthesis, properties and catalytic uses of phosphinoalkynes bearing bulky end caps at the alkyne termini, that is, tris[(triarylsilyl)ethynyl]phosphines are reported. The most salient feature of the new phosphines is the holey molecular shape possessing a deep and large-scale metal-binding cavity. The holey phosphines displayed remarkable rate enhancement in the gold(I)-catalyzed six- and seven-membered ring forming cyclizations of acetylenic keto esters and 1,7-enynes. It is proposed that the cavity in the ligand forces a nucleophilic center (enol or alkene) of the acetylenic compounds close to the gold-bound alkyne, making ring-closing anti attack feasible.