Dinuclear gold-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization of cyclopropenes

We report an unprecedented C-H bond functionalization of cyclopropenes enabled by dinuclear gold catalysis. Highly selective C-H allylation, alkynylation and halogenation of cyclopropenes with organic halides have been realized. The reaction does not require strong external oxidants and affords access to functionalized cyclopropenes in moderate to good yields. The reductive elimination process to controllably construct C-C or C-X bonds can be tuned by using different dinuclear gold catalysts.