Ynol Ethers: Synthesis and Reactivity

Chimia (Aarau). 2016;70(1-2):93-6. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2016.93.

Abstract

Ynol ethers are highly valuable substrates offering a wide range of reactivity. These highly electron-rich heterosubstitued alkynes can be of great synthetic potential. In this mini-review, the different methods for the synthesis of ynol ethers are first presented, divided in three main approaches involving a β-elimination, a carbene rearrangement and a direct oxidation of an alkyne. Their reactivity is then summarized underlying their synthetic utility. This non-exhaustive review aims at presenting the intrinsic reactivity of these compounds, still underexploited in synthesis.