Convenient synthesis of (1-propynyl)arenes through a one-pot double elimination reaction, and their conversion to enynes

A series of (1-propynyl)arenes were prepared by one-pot double elimination reaction of ethyl sulfone, aromatic aldehyde and chloro diethylphosphate in THF with a base such as BuLi and t-BuOK. A propargyllithium which was prepared by treatment of (1-propynyl)arene with BuLi in the presence of 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(l H)-pyrimidinone (DMPU) reacted with aromatic aldehyde, chloro diethyl phosphate and t-BuOK to afford (4-arylbut-3-en-1-ynyl)arene. Photoluminescence of the enynes thus prepared was recorded both in solution and in the solid state.