Gold(I)-Catalyzed Oxidation of Acyl Acetylenes to Vicinal Tricarbonyls.

Efficient gold(I)-catalyzed oxidation of COR2-functionalized internal alkynes to vicinal tricarbonyl compounds by 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide proceeds under mild conditions (DCM, rt). This catalytic reaction provides a good to excellent yielding route to diverse tricarbonyls such as α,β-diketoesters, 1,2,3-triketones, and α,β-diketoamides. The utility of these compounds was also demonstrated by facile one-pot synthesis of important azaheterocyclic systems.