Gold-catalyzed post-Ugi alkyne hydroarylation for the synthesis of 2-quinolones.

A series of propargylamides containing an electron-rich benzene ring was prepared through the Ugi reaction of 3,5-dimethoxyaniline with various propiolic acids, aldehydes and isocyanides. Subjecting these adducts to a gold-catalyzed intramolecular alkyne hydroarylation process allowed to efficiently construct the 2-quinolone core bearing a branched substituent on the nitrogen atom.