Gold-catalyzed cascade Friedel-Crafts/furan-alkyne cycloisomerizations for the highly efficient synthesis of arylated (Z)-enones or -enals.

An efficient domino approach for the synthesis of arylated (Z)-enones or -enals through gold(I)-catalyzed reactions of enynols with furans was developed. PPh(3)AuNTf(2) was found to be an excellent catalyst to catalyze both of the Friedel-Crafts and furan/alkyne cyclization reactions in the same vessel. This method offers several advantages such as high stereoselectivities, mild reaction conditions, and easily accessible starting materials.