Cu (I) immobilized on functionalized SBA-15: A recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of 1,3-diynes using terminal alkynes without base

A new functionalized SBA-15 catalyst immobilized CuI was successfully prepared, and the catalytic activity was tested in the oxidative homocoupling of terminal alkynes at the absence of base, and good to excellent yields was obtained to get 1,3-diynes without any side product formation in the solution of DMSO. Moreover, the system also allowed the synthesis of unsymmetric 1,3-diynes by cross-coupling of two different terminal alkynes. Finally, the catalyst could be reused for several times without a significant loss of activity. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.