Gold‐Mediated Isomerization of ­Cyclooctyne to Ring Fused Olefinic Bicycles

Isomerization reactions of cyclooctyne mediated by N-heterocyclic carbene supported gold(I) leading to ring-contraction and the formation of 5/5-fused bicyclic alkenes have been observed. Isolation and complete characterization, including X-ray structural data of the cationic gold(I) complexes featuring the precursor alkyne and the product alkenes are also described.