Au (I)-catalyzed cyclization of alkenyl carbonyl compounds leading to a variety of substituted naphthalenes has been developed. This process exploits a dual function of the Au (I) catalyst:(1) the oxophilic nature of the Au (I) catalyst, counterintuitive to the π-acidic reactivities generally associated with Au catalysts, and (2) olefin isomerization supported by the outcome of isotope scrambling experiments. It cannot be completely excluded that ...