Gold(I)-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Propargylations of Azinium Ions via Hydroxydihydroazine Intermediates

The nucleophilic propargylation of azinium ions with a propargylboronate proceeds efficiently under gold(I) catalysis. A range of N-alkylated pyridinium, quinolinium, and pyrazinium ions undergo propargylation with good yields and high regioselectivities to give various functionalized 1,4-dihydropyridines, 1,2-dihydropyridines, 1,4-dihydroquinolines, 1,2-dihydroquinolines, and 4,5-dihydropyrazines. No allenylation side-products are observed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided insight into the mechanisms of these reactions. Hydroxydihydroazine intermediates formed by the addition of LiOH to the azinium ions were found to be the reactive electrophiles in these reactions.