One-Pot Procedure for the Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diarylalkynes

Abstract

Unsymmetrical diarylalkynes are accessible by a one-pot procedure from two different aryl halides and (trimethylsilyl)acetylene. The three-component coupling is initialized by a Pd/Cu-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of an aryl halide with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene. After subsequent desilylation of the formed aryl(trimethylsilyl)acetylene with aqueous potassium hydroxide, a second Sonogashira coupling with an aryl iodide that does not require any additional Pd/Cu-catalyst gives access to an unsymmetrical diarylalkyne.