Pt- and Au-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 2-ethenyl-1-(prop-2′-yn-1-′-ol) benzenes to naphthyl aldehydes and ketones:: catalytic oxidation of metal-alkylidene intermediates using H2O and H2O2
2-Ethenyl-1-(prop-2'-yn-1'-ol) benzenes was cyclized through catalytic oxidation with PtCl2/CO/H2O and PEt3AuCl/H2O2; the metal-naphthylidene intermediates were identified and oxygenated with water and H2O2, respectively; for the efficiency of cyclization, the Au catalytic system is superior to that of the PtCl2-catalysis because of its compatibility toward diverse alcohol substrates including both internal alkynes and terminal alkynes.