Site-Selective Gold-Catalyzed Alkylation of α-Aminotropones with Allenes

The site-selective alkylation of α-aminotropones is effectively realized via gold(I)-catalyzed electrophilic activation of allenamides and allenyl ethers, yielding up to 85% in 30 examples. A dedicated and combined spectroscopic and computational investigation accounts for both chemo- and regioselective profiles of the protocol. New opportunities in the chemical space of tropone/tropolone derivatives are identified.