Cu-catalyzed Fe-driven C(sp)-C(sp) and C(s)p-C(sp2) cross-coupling: an access to 1,3-diynes and 1,3-enynes.

An efficient Csp-Csp cross-coupling of alkynyl bromide and pinacol ester of alkynyl boronic acid catalyzed by CuFe2O4 nanoparticles has been accomplished in dimethyl carbonate to produce unsymmetric 1,3-diynes. This protocol is also extended for the Csp-Csp2 coupling of alkynyl bromide and alkenyl boronic acid to provide conjugated 1,3-enynes. The aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic alkynes couple with various substituted alkynyl/alkenyl boronates/boronic acids by this procedure to furnish a library of 1,3-diynes and enynes in high yields. The catalyst was easily separated by an external magnet and recycled 10 times.