Divergent C—H Insertion–Cyclization Cascades of N‐Allyl Ynamides

Gold carbene reactivity patterns were accessed by ynamide insertion into a C(sp(3))—H bond. A substantial increase in molecular complexity occurred through the cascade polycyclization of N‐allyl ynamides to form fused nitrogen‐heterocycle scaffolds. Exquisite selectivity was observed despite several competing pathways in an efficient gold‐catalyzed synthesis of densely functionalized C(sp(3))‐rich polycycles and a copper‐catalyzed synthesis of fused pyridine derivatives. The respective gold–keteniminium and ketenimine activation pathways have been explored through a structure–reactivity study, and isotopic labeling identified turnover‐limiting C—H bond‐cleavage in both processes.