Gold(I)-catalyzed asymmetric induction of planar chirality by intramolecular nucleophilic addition to chromium-complexed alkynylarenes: asymmetric synthesis of planar chiral (1H-isochromene and 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline)chromium complexes.

Gold(I)-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular cyclization of prochiral 1,3-dihydroxymethyl-2-alkynylbenzene or 1,3-bis(carbamate)-2-alkynylbenzene tricarbonylchromium complexes with axially chiral diphosphine ligand gave planar chiral tricarbonylchromium complexes of 1H-isochromene or 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline with high enantioselectivity. An enantiomeric excess of the planar chiral arene chromium complexes was largely affected by a combination of axially chiral diphosphine(AuCl)2 precatalysts and silver salts. In the case of 1,3-dihydroxymethyl-2-alkynylbenzene chromium complexes, a system of segphos(AuCl)2 with AgBF4 resulted in the formation of the corresponding antipode.