trans-Hydroalkynylation of Internal 1,3-Enynes Enabled by Cooperative Catalysis

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Mar 15;145(10):5624-5630. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c00514. Epub 2023 Mar 2.

Abstract

A cooperative catalyst system involving a Pd(0)/Senphos complex, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, copper bromide, and an amine base, is demonstrated to catalyze trans-hydroalkynylation of internal 1,3-enynes. For the first time, a Lewis acid catalyst is shown to promote the reaction involving the emerging outer-sphere oxidative reaction step. The resulting cross-conjugated dieneynes are versatile synthons for organic synthesis, and their characterization reveals distinct photophysical properties depending on the positioning of the donor/acceptor substituents along the conjugation path.