Gold-catalyzed sequential alkyne activation for the synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted phosphorus 2-pyrones.

Tandem gold-catalyzed addition of alkynyl phosphonic acid monoethyl esters to terminal alkynes and cyclization were developed for the synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted phosphorus 2-pyrones in one reaction vessel based on the concept of sequential alkyne activation. Alkynyl enol phosphonates were selectively obtained through the gold-catalyzed addition reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of triethylamine. Also, gold-catalyzed cyclization of alkynyl enol phosphonates was successful in giving a variety of 4,6-disubstituted phosphorus 2-pyrones.