Para-Selective Gold-Catalyzed Direct Alkynylation of Anilines

A method for the para-selective alkynylation of anilines is reported using AuCl as catalyst and triisopropylsilylethynyl-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (TIPS-EBX) as an electrophilic acetylene equivalent. Para-alkynyl anilines substituted at positions 2 or 3 were obtained in one step from simple anilines under mild conditions (room temperature to 60 degrees C) under air. The methodology could also be extended to the alkynylation of trimethoxybenzenes.