Cu/SaBox-Catalyzed Photoinduced Coupling of Acylsilanes with Alkynes

The transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with Fischer metal carbene intermediates bearing an electron-rich alkoxyl or siloxyl group remains a big challenge due to the lack of readily available corresponding carbene precursors. Herein, we report the coupling of alkynes with the Fischer-type copper carbene species bearing a alpha-siloxyl group, which could be in situ generated from acylsilanes catalytically under photoirradiation and redox-neutral conditions. The side-arm modified bisoxazoline (SaBox) ligands prove to be crucial for this coupling reaction, which provides the corresponding alkynyl alcohol in high yields with remarkable heterocycle tolerance and broad substrate scope.

Automated summary

In this study, the coupling of alkynes with Fischer-type copper carbene species bearing an alpha-siloxyl group is reported. The copper carbene species can be in situ generated from acylsilanes under photoirradiation and redox-neutral conditions. The side-arm modified bisoxazoline (SaBox) ligands play a crucial role in this coupling reaction, providing the corresponding alkynyl alcohol in high yields with remarkable heterocycle tolerance and broad substrate scope.