Gold-catalysed cascade rearrangements of ynamide propargyl esters

The Au(I)-catalysed rearrangement of propargylic esters formed from an ynamide has been studied. The reaction is facile, and when conducted in the presence of a reactive indole nucleophile, leads to a cascade process whereby γ-indolyl α-acyloxyenamides are formed in good yield and excellent E-stereoselectivity.