A study concerning the gold (I)-catalyzed hydroarylation of N-propargyl-N′- arylhydrazinecarboxylic acid methyl esters is described. The use of the gold complex [XPhosAu (NCCH3) SbF6] as the catalyst in refluxing nitromethane allows the generally rapid and efficient synthesis of a range of functionalized 4-exo-methylene-1, 2- dihydrocinnolines.
