Homocoupling of terminal alkynes to 1,4-disubstituted 1,3-diynes promoted by copper(I) iodide and a task specific ionic liquid, [bmim]OH - A green procedure

A simple and efficient method for the oxidative homocoupling of terminal alkynes to symmetrical 1,4-disubstituted 1,3-diynes has been developed using copper(l) iodide in a task specific basic ionic liquid, [bmim]OH under atmospheric condition without requiring any palladium compound, amine base, oxidant and organic solvent.