Alkane C-H insertion by aryne intermediates with a silver catalyst.

Arynes generated directly from alkyne building blocks in the presence of silver catalysts effectively activate primary, secondary, and tertiary alkane C-H bonds. This C-H insertion requires only a catalytic amount of silver complex and modest heating compared to harsh conditions and extra promoters including directing groups, oxidants, and bases in typical transition-metal-based C-H bond functionalizations. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the C-H bond-breaking and new bond-forming events take place in a concerted manner, rendering a formal 1,2-addition of C-H bond across the π-bond of arynes.