Oxidative alkynylation of imines with alkynylcopper reagents: A straightforward and practical entry to ynimines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-0031-1289760

We have developed an efficient and general synthesis of ynimines based on an oxidative cross-coupling between imines and alkynylcopper reagents. Upon simple addition of 1,2-dimethylimidazole in the presence of oxygen, these bench-stable, crystalline, and readily available polymeric compounds were found to be especially suitable reagents for the introduction of an alkynyl group into a wide range of ketimines at room temperature and under especially mild conditions.