Access to divergent benzo-heterocycles via a catalyst-dependent strategy in the controllable cyclization of o-alkynyl-N-methoxyl-benzamidesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Spectroscopy details. CCDC 1515606, 1515607 and 1515610. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c7cc01861d

A chemo- and regio-selectively controllable approach for construction of diverse benzo-heterocycles is established. A new strategy for using the ligand effect in gold catalysis to control the regioselectivity in the cyclization of o -alkynyl- N -methoxyl-benzamide is successfully achieved. Meanwhile, the chemoselectivity between nitrogen and oxygen nucleophiles is precisely switched by gold and platinum catalysts. A chemo- and regio-selectively controllable approach for construction of diverse benzo-heterocycles is established. The ligand controls the regioselectivity and the metal dominates the chemoselectivity.