Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclizations of Alkynes with Alkenes and Arenes

This chapter reviews the gold-catalyzed cyclization reactions of alkynes with alkenes that proceed via selective activation of the alkyne by π-coordination of the transition metal. Mechanistically related intermolecular reactions between alkynes and alkenes are also discussed, as are reactions of alkynes with arenes, heteroarenes, and related nucleophiles. Keywords: gold; alkynes; alkenes; cyclizations; skeletal rearrangements; metal carbenes