It has been established that a cationic gold(I)/(R)-DTBM-Segphos or (R)-BINAP complex catalyzes an atroposelective intramol. hydroarylation of alkynes leading to enantioenriched axially chiral 4-aryl-2-quinolinones and 4-(aryl)coumarins and the synthesis of the target compds. was achieved with up to 61% ee. [on SciFinder(R)]