Propargylation of Aromatic Compounds with Propargylic Alcohols Catalyzed by a Cationic Diruthenium Complex

Abstract

Two metals are better than one: The cationic methanethiolate-bridged diruthenium complex 1 (Cp*=C5Me5, OTf=CF3SO3) promotes the catalytic propargylation of aromatic compounds with propargylic alcohols bearing not only terminal alkyne but also internal alkyne units, reactions that can not be carried out with some mononuclear catalysts. This reaction provides a general and environmentally friendly (atom economical, only H2O as byproduct) method for the synthesis of a variety of propargylated aromatic compounds.