A Gold-Catalyzed Domino Process to the Steroid Framework

The facile formation of the B and C ring of rac-desoxyequilenin and of a chrysenone derivative in just one preparative step is demonstrated, applying a gold-catalyzed domino process, which involves a benzopyrylium cation as the key intermediate and an intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition as the key step.