Bimetallic Gold(I)/Chiral N,N'-Dioxide Nickel(II) Asymmetric Relay Catalysis: Chemo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Spiroketals and Spiroaminals.

A highly efficient asymmetric cascade reaction between keto esters and alkynyl alcohols and amides is reported. The success of the reaction was attributed to the combination of chiral Lewis acid N,N'-dioxide nickel(II) catalysis with achiral π-acid gold(I) catalysis working as an asymmetric relay catalytic system. The corresponding spiroketals and spiroaminals were synthesized in up to 99 % yield, 19:1 d.r., and more than 99 % ee under mild reaction conditions. Control experiments suggest that the N,N'-dioxide ligand was essential for the formation of the spiro products.