Theoretical study of the reaction of alkynes with furan catalyzed by AuCl3 and AuCl

A general scheme for the endo‐ and exo‐cyclization of furan reactivity with [L‐AuIII, IClx] with (x = 3, 1 and L‐acetylene and vinylidene) complexes is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) code. Two conceivable mechanisms via a [4 + 2] Diels–Alder process or carbene complex are analyzed. According to the activation energy values of the gold (III and I) catalyst, the first mechanism, which implies the Diels–Alder reaction of AuIII, is thermodynamically favored and gives more evidence of the intramolecular addition of the furan with the alkynes. The second mechanism, presumably assisted by the spontaneous formation of the exo‐vinylidene complexes and intermediates of gold (III, I) by forming the carbene complex, is kinetically favored. Additionally, we compare our results with other structures with intramolecular additions that exhibit the quasi‐similarity of gold analogue structures. Differences in activation energies are observed, according to the functional used. Finally, we probe the solvent effects, which decrease the energy barrier in the path. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007