Oxidative cycloaddition of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane to alkynes catalyzed by supported gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles supported on TiO(2) (0.1-1% mol) catalyze at room temperature and at extremely mild conditions the unprecedented oxidative cycloaddition of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane to alkynes, forming substituted 2,5-dihydro-1,2,5-oxadisiloles, with concomitant evolution of hydrogen gas. For the majority of the substrates, the yields are exceptional (up to 99%). The reaction proceeds at room temperature, tolerates a variety of functional groups, and can be performed in several solvents.