Efficient hydroarylation of terminal alkynes with sodium tetraphenylborate performed in water under mild conditions

Abstract

The hydroarylation of terminal alkynes with sodium tetraphenylborate was performed in high yield within 3 h at room temperature in water, using palladium(II) complexes with imidazole ligands as catalysts. Under these conditions, differently substituted phenylacetylene substrates were converted to arylalkenes and aryl-substituted dienes. High conversion and excellent selectivity were achieved in the hydroarylation of alkynols with sodium tetraphenylborate. Only one product, arylalkene with an OH group, was formed in these reactions with the yield dependent on the kind of alkynol used. A plausible hydroarylation reaction mechanism was proposed on the basis of the palladium species identified in the reaction mixture and H/D exchange studies. The contribution of water as the hydride source was evidenced.