Gold-catalyzed tandem [3,3]-propargyl ester rearrangement leading to (E)-1H-inden-1-ones.

An efficient method for the synthesis of (E)-1H-inden-1-ones using gold-catalyzed tandem [3,3]-propargyl ester rearrangement followed by Michael addition under mild reaction conditions has been developed. The resulting products are important frameworks found in numerous natural products and pharmaceutically active compounds, as well as being valuable intermediates in organic synthesis.