Abstract
A world of possibilities: Gold-catalyzed reactions of 2-ethynylbenzyl ethers with organic oxides and α-diazoesters gave 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran and naphthalene derivatives, respectively (see scheme; EWG=electron-withdrawing group). Mechanisms for the formation of the formal cycloadducts were elucidated by isotope labeling. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.