Multi-Metal-Catalyzed Oxidative Radical Alkynylation with Terminal Alkynes: A New Strategy for C(sp3)-C(sp) Bond Formation.

A new way for C(sp3)-C(sp) cross-coupling with terminal alkynes has been developed by using a multi-metal-catalyzed reaction strategy. Alkyl radicals generated from different approaches are able to couple with terminal alkynes by judicious selection of the catalyst combination. This reaction protocol offers an efficient alternative approach for the synthesis of substituted alkynes from terminal alkynes besides traditional Sonogashira coupling. Mechanistic studies have also been carried out to clarify the role of each metal catalyst in the radical alkynylation processes. The reactions were found to go through radical reaction pathways. Synergistic cooperation of the metal catalysts is the key for controlling the reaction selectivity of alkyl radicals toward C(sp3)-C(sp) bond formation.