Synthesis 2004(7): 1062-1066  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-822314
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Novel Regio- and Stereoselective Dimerization of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by Rare-Earth Silylamide

Kimihiro Komeyama*, Katsuomi Takehira, Ken Takaki*
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima 739-8527, Japan
Fax: +81(824)245494; e-Mail: kkome@hiroshima-u.ac.jp;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 10 December 2003
Publication Date:
23 March 2004 (online)

Abstract

Rare-earth silylamide complex, Y[N(SiMe3)2]3, was found to exhibit good catalyst activities for regio- and stereoselective dimerization of terminal aliphatic and aromatic alkynes in the presence of amine additives. Thus, using tertiary amine additives, particularly N(SiMe3)3, aliphatic terminal alkynes were efficiently converted to head-to-tail dimers. On the other hand, only Z-head-to-head dimers were obtained in high yields from aromatic alkynes with the catalyst and aromatic primary amines such as 4-ClC6H4NH2.

7

The reaction of 2a using three equivalents of Et3N (15 mol%) gave 3a and 4a in 21 and 7% yields, respectively, with 49% conversion.

11

Although the products 3c and 4h were not isolated, they were identified by comparison of 1H NMR spectra of their reaction mixtures with literature data. [2e] [f]