Copper-catalyzed alkyne-aryne coupling reaction under microwave conditions: preparation of unsymmetric and symmetric di-substituted alkynes

Several unsymmetric and symmetric alkynes were prepared excellent to modest yields by generating benzyne from the reaction of 2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate with CsF in the presence of Cul and terminal alkyne under microwave heating for 30 min at 150 degrees C. Using conventional heating, the reactions required 24 h reaction time. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.