Gold-Catalyzed Oxidative Cross-Coupling of Terminal Alkynes: Selective Synthesis of Unsymmetrical 1,3-Diynes

Gold-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of alkynes to unsymmetrical diynes has been achieved for the first time. A N,N-ligand (1,10-Phen) and PhI(OAc)2 were identified as crucial factors to promote this transformation, giving the desired cross-coupled conjugated diynes in excellent heteroselectivity (>10:1), in good to excellent yields, and with large substrate tolerability.