Copper-catalyzed 1,4-alkylarylation of 1,3-enynes with masked alkyl electrophiles

Chem Sci. 2019 Feb 19;10(12):3632-3636. doi: 10.1039/c8sc05689g. eCollection 2019 Mar 28.

Abstract

Classical 1,4-dicarbofunctionalization of 1,3-enynes employs organometallic reagents as nucleophiles to initiate the reaction. We report a copper-catalyzed 1,4-alkylarylation of 1,3-enynes with alkyl diacyl peroxides as masked alkyl electrophiles and aryl boronic acids as nucleophiles, selectively affording structurally diversified tetrasubstituted allenes under mild conditions. Mechanistic studies suggest that an allenyl radical might be involved.