An Au(i)-catalyzed tandem reaction, involving a Meyer–Schuster rearrangement/1,2-migration/Paal–Knorr cyclization cascade has been successfully developed.
A highly enantioselective and atom-economical [2 + 2] cycloaddition of various alkynes with trifluoropyruvate using a dicationic (S)-BINAP-Pd catalyst has been established. This is the first enantioselective synthesis of stable oxetene derivatives, whose structure has been clarified by X-ray analysis. This catalytic process offers a practical synthetic method for oxetene derivatives (catalyst loading: