Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Synthesis of Hypervalent Iodonium Alkynyl Triflates for the Application of Generating Cyanocarbenes
Published on: September 8, 2013
Pd-catalyzed sulfinylzincation of activated alkynes with 1-alkynyl sulfoxides as a sulfinyl source
Naoyoshi Maezaki1, Suguru Yagi, Ryoko Yoshigami
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Abstract:
Unprecedented Pd-catalyzed sulfinylzincation with 1-alkynyl sulfoxide as a sulfinyl source was developed. Bis-sulfinyl alkenes were formed in good yields on treatment of 1-alkynyl sulfoxides with Et(2)Zn in the presence of a Pd-catalyst, wherein zinc sulfenate (or sulfinylzinc) species would be generated in situ to undergo highly syn-selective conjugate addition to the 1-alkynyl sulfoxides. By using 3,3-dimethyl-1-butynyl sulfoxides, formation of the bis-sulfinyl alkenes was completely suppressed and the sulfinylzincation of activated alkynes was accomplished. The reaction tolerates various functionalities, and was promoted considerably by the neighboring group participation of the heteroatom at the delta-position in the alkynoates. Stereodivergent synthesis of two diastereomeric vinylic sulfoxides and reaction of the resulting vinylzinc species with electrophiles were also described.
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Analogous to alkenes, alkynes also undergo acid-catalyzed hydration. While the addition of water to an alkene gives an alcohol, hydration of alkynes produces different products such as aldehydes and ketones.
Preparation of Alkynes: Dehydrohalogenation
Alkynes can be prepared by dehydrohalogenation of vicinal or geminal dihalides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide in liquid ammonia. The reaction proceeds with the loss of two equivalents of hydrogen halide (HX) via two successive E2 elimination reactions.
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
