Hemilabile MIC^N ligands allow oxidant-free Au(i)/Au(iii) arylation-lactonization of γ-alkenoic acids

A novel hemilabile MIC^N ligand-based Au( i )-catalytic procedure for the synthesis of γ-substituted γ-butyrolactones through the arylation-lactonization reaction of the corresponding γ-alkenoic acid is presented.