[1, 2]‐Migration Reactions Catalyzed by Gold Complexes and their Applications in Total Synthesis

Abstract The area of cascade reactions, initiated by the transition metal‐catalyzed activation of π‐systems and coupled with a 1,2‐migration step is of considerable interest in current organic chemistry research. In this article, recent advances in the field are highlighted, focusing on gold as the activating π‐acid. Cascade reactions with 1,2‐shifts of alkyl groups as migrating agents are mainly presented, but also selected 1,2‐aryl migrations and miscellaneous examples are depicted. With the reactions discussed, molecules of high structural complexity become readily accessible. Examples are shown where the reactions were used as the key steps of total synthesis endeavours.