Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Alkynylation of Aryl Bromides by Sodium Tetraalkynylaluminates

Sodium tetraalkynylaluminates (1−4), prepared from NaAlH₄ and terminal alkynes, cross-couple with aryl bromides in the presence of Pd(0) and Pd(II) catalysts. The reactions take place in boiling THF or DME. The process is applicable to both homo- and heterocyclic aryl bromides and can be used for conversion of polybromo compounds into polyalkynes. The reactions are high yielding and selective, free of undesired homocoupling and hydrogenolysis processes. The reagents selectively react with the ring-bound bromine atoms but do not affect chloro, cyano, triflate, or ester functions.