Electrophilic carbon transfer in gold catalysis: synthesis of substituted chromones

Using easily accessible aromatic alkoxy-arylalkynones, we have investigated the gold-catalyzed intramolecular addition of ethers to alkynes, to give easy access to various substituted chromones. This reaction involves the transfer of the ether substituent via a carbodemetallation process. We also noticed a competing isomerization of several starting materials for which we propose a second gold catalyzed mechanism.