Rapid Carboalumination of Alkynes in the Presence of Water

Abstract

Within minutes at −23°C, alkenylalanes can be generated from terminal alkynes by Zr-catalyzed methyl- or ethylalumination, when stoichiometric amounts of water are added. Alkenes can be synthesized stereoselectively from the alkenylalanes. Reaction (a) is fast even at −70°C. The “water effect”, also observed in other reactions with organometallic compounds, is not yet understood.