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Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Metal-free Synthesis of Ynones from Acyl Chlorides and Potassium Alkynyltrifluoroborate Salts
Published on: February 24, 2015
Aryl Nitriles from Alkynes Using tert-Butyl Nitrite: Metal-Free Approach to C≡C Bond Cleavage
Uttam Dutta1,2, David W Lupton2,3, Debabrata Maiti1,2
1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Powai, Mumbai-400 076, India.
Abstract:
Alkyne C≡C bond breaking, outside of alkyne metathesis, remains an underdeveloped area in reaction discovery. Recently, nitrogenation has been reported to allow nitrile formation from alkynes. A new protocol for the metal-free C≡C bond cleavage of terminal alkynes to produce nitriles is reported. This method provides an opportunity to synthesize a vast range of nitriles containing aryl, heteroaryl, and natural product derivatives (38 examples). In addition, the potential of (t)BuONO to act as a powerful nitrogenating agent for terminal aryl alkynes is demonstrated.
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