Highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-enynes from unactivated ethylenes via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling

An efficient procedure for regio- and stereoselective synthesis of a series of conjugated enynes by a simple Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of unactivated ethylenes and ethynyl bromide has been developed. The reaction proceeds smoothly in DMF to give the corresponding products in good to excellent yields. The protocol can tolerate a broad range of functional groups on the substrates. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.