Gold-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Ring-Opening Reaction of 2-Alkynylazetidines with Alcohols.

The reaction of 2-alkynylazetidines and alcohols with a gold catalyst is described. A variety of substituted δ-amino-α,β-unsaturated ketones were synthesized via gold-promoted nucleophilic attack of alcohols followed by ring-opening of azetidine ring.