Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Metal-free Synthesis of Ynones from Acyl Chlorides and Potassium Alkynyltrifluoroborate Salts
Published on: February 24, 2015
Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alk-4-yn-1-ones
Volker Belting1, Norbert Krause
1Dortmund University of Technology, Organic Chemistry, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, D-44227, Dortmund, Germany.
Abstract:
Depending on the substitution pattern and the solvent, the gold-catalyzed cyclization of alk-4-yn-1-ones affords different oxygen heterocycles under mild reaction conditions. Alkynones with one substituent at C-3 undergo a 5-exo-dig cycloisomerization to substituted furans , whereas a 6-endo-dig cyclization to 4H-pyrans is observed with substrates bearing two substituents at C-3. In alcoholic solvents, alkylidene/benzylidene-substituted tetrahydrofuranyl ethers are formed in a tandem nucleophilic addition/cycloisomerization.
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Cycloaddition Reactions: Overview
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.

![Solid-phase Synthesis of [4.4] Spirocyclic Oximes](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F58508.jpg&w=3840&q=50)