Mild and phosphine-free iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of nonactivated secondary alkyl halides with alkynyl Grignard reagents.

A simple protocol for iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of nonactivated secondary alkyl bromides and iodides with alkynyl Grignard reagents at room temperature has been developed. A wide range of secondary alkyl halides and terminal alkynes are tolerated to afford the substituted alkynes in good yields. A slight modification of the reaction protocol also allows for cross-coupling with a variety of primary alkyl halides.