Copper-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of propargylamines via C-H activation in PEG

An efficient and convenient three-component A(3) coupling reaction of aldehyde, amine and alkyne via C-H activation with CuI alone as the catalyst in PEG is developed, providing a wide range of propargylamines with yields ranging from moderate to excellent. Additionally, the catalyst system was recovered and reused several times without evident loss in activity. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.