Oxy‐ and Chloroarylation Pathways in Gold‐Mediated Cyclization of 2‐Aminoaryl‐3‐arylpropargyl‐benzenesulfonamides

Abstract

AbstractA one‐pot diazotization/gold‐mediated cyclization of 2‐aminoaryl‐3‐arylpropargyl‐benzenesulfonamides is described. After diazotization, Me2SAuCl triggers an oxy‐ and/or chloroarylation of the alkyne moiety, resulting in the formation of 3‐acylindoles and/or Z‐3‐(chloromethylene)indolines. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations show the significant energetic preference of both processes over an insertion pathway. Notably, a Z‐3‐(chloromethylene)indoline crystallized with [Cl‐Au‐Cl],− exhibiting Au⋅⋅⋅H−C short contacts.