Abstract
A co-operative Au(
i
)/Ag(
i
) catalyst system has been developed to utilize
N
-allenamides as nucleophilic enal equivalents for the interceptive capturing of incipient carbocations generated through π-acid-triggered imino-alkyne cyclization. The salient features include the
in situ
generation of silver-bound carbocations (from iminoalkynes), α-gold(
i
) enals (from
N
-allenamides) and union of these two species to form indolizines with the regeneration of Au and Ag catalysts.