Copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of silver acetylides and azides: incorporation of volatile acetylenes into the triazole core.

Silver acetylides and organic azides react under copper(I) catalysis to afford 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. Mechanistic studies implicate a process involving transmetallation to copper acetylides prior to cycloaddition. This work demonstrates that silver acetylides serve as suitable precursors for entry into copper-mediated coupling reactions. This methodology allows the incorporation of volatile and difficult-to-handle acetylenes into the triazole core.