Silver(I) and gold(I)-promoted synthesis of alkylidene lactones and 2H-chromenes from salicylic and anthranilic acid derivatives

Ag(I) and Au(I) efficiently catalyze the cycloisomerization of terminal alkynoic acids into methylene seven-membered ring lactones. Depending on the metal, divergent reaction pathways were found for non terminal alkynoic acids. While Ag(I) led to lactones, Au(I) led to 2H-chromenes coming from the hydroarylation of the alkyne.