Regioselective transformation of alkynes catalyzed by a copper hydride or boryl copper species

Abstract

This review summarizes the transformation of alkynes using a copper hydride (Cu–H) or boryl copper (Cu–B) species as the active species. The semihydrogenation, hydrocarboxylation, and hydroboration of alkynes have been developed using Cu–H as the active species. The hydroboration, diboration, carboboration and boracarboxylation of alkynes involve the Cu–B species. These transformations afforded multi-substituted alkenes that are potentially good intermediates in organic synthesis. The key to the regioselective transformation is the addition of the Cu–H or Cu–B species to an alkyne, to afford the corresponding alkenylcopper intermediate regioselectively.