Gold-Catalyzed Cyclization of 3‑(2′-Azidoaryl)-1-arylpropargyl Carbonates or 3‑Aryl-1-(2′-azidoaryl)propargyl Carbonates to Produce Quinolines

A gold-catalyzed cyclization of 3-(2′-azidoaryl)-1-arylpropargyl carbonates to generate substituted quinolines via a sequence of 3,3-rearrangement, 6-endo-trig cyclization and denitrogenation has been developed. Similar products could be obtained from 3-aryl-1-(2′-azidoaryl)­propargyl carbonates under different gold catalytic conditions via a sequential 6-endo-dig cyclization, denitrogenation, and 1,2-H shift process.