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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

Synthesis of Hypervalent Iodonium Alkynyl Triflates for the Application of Generating Cyanocarbenes
Published on: September 8, 2013
Lewis base-catalyzed additions of alkynes using trialkoxysilylalkynes
Robert B Lettan Ii1, Karl A Scheidt
1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
Abstract:
[reaction: see text]. The Lewis base-catalyzed additions of alkynyl nucleophiles to aldehydes, ketones, and imines is described. Mechanistic studies strongly indicate that the use of new triethoxysilylalkynes facilitates access of a reactive hypervalent silicate intermediate. This activated carbon nucleophile subsequently undergoes rapid addition to carbonyl compounds and imines, thus affording the secondary and tertiary propargyl systems in moderate to high yield.
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Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
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.
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Hydrohalogenation
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.
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.