Well-Defined Chiral Gold(III) Complex Catalyzed Direct Enantioconvergent Kinetic Resolution of 1,5-Enynes

The development of a gold­(III) catalyzed direct enantioconvergent 1,5-enyne cycloisomerization and kinetic resolution reaction is described. The transformation results in highly enantioenriched bicyclo[3.1.0]­hexenes at all levels of conversion, with no racemization or symmetrization taking place during the course of the reaction, and simultaneously affords optically enriched 1,5-enynes. This report marks the first highly enantioselective transformation catalyzed by a well-defined cationic gold­(III) catalyst and demonstrates the unique potential of gold­(III) complexes in enantioselective catalysis.