Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization-Indole Addition Cascade: Synthesis of 3(2 H )-Furanone-Incorporated Unsymmetrical 3,3'- Bis(indolyl)methanes.

An unprecedented Au(I)-catalyzed domino intramolecular carbonyl-alkyne cyclization/indole addition strategy has been disclosed here. This generalized strategy enables the synthesis of 3(2 H )-furanone-incorporated unsymmetrical bis(indolyl)methanes with generation of a stereocenter at the furanone junction from easily accessible indole-tethered ynediones. In addition, this present protocol could also be extended for the synthesis of a number of indolyl-(hetero)arylmethanes by employing a variety of (hetero)arenes as a nucleophile coupling partner.