Access to 2,3-Dihydropyridines\nInvolving Cyano Transformation\nRelay through Gold Catalysis Assisted by a Lewis Acid

A gold(I)-catalyzed cyclization of enynone-nitriles with\namines\nto 2,3-DHPs assisted by La(OTf)<sub>3</sub> has been developed. The\ncompatibility with abundant nucleophiles, high functional group tolerance,\nrapid assembly of molecular complexity, and late-stage functionalization\nof bioactive substances make this approach attractive for the construction\nof 2,3-DHPs, which have rarely been synthesized in the literature.\nThe reaction proceeds via cascade cyclization involving gold/Lewis\nacid cooperative activation of the alkene and the cyano moiety.