Lien DOI – 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c01370
Org. Lett. 2020, 22, 4344 – 4349
N-Propargyl tryptamine and tryptophan derivatives that are readily available from both synthetic and biocatalytic approaches undergo gold-catalyzed dearomative cyclizations in aqueous media to the corresponding spirocyclic derivatives. In addition to the efficiency of the method, operating in aqueous media affords a selective entry to C2-unsubstituted spiroindolenines that have long remained unattainable by Au(I) catalysis. Moderate to excellent yields of the desired spirocyclic products bearing various substituents were obtained.