Highly selective cross-coupling reactions of 1,1-dibromoethylenes with alkynylaluminums for the synthesis of aryl substituted conjugated enediynes and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes.

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of aryl substituted conjugated enediynes and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes selective cross-coupling reactions of 1,1-dibromoethylenes with alkynylaluminums using the Pd(OAc)-DPPE and Pd(dba)-TFP complexes as catalysts, respectively, has been successfully developed. Though the alkyl substituted conjugated enediynes and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes were not obtained, this case is also remarkable as the same starting materials could selectively produce either aryl substituted conjugated enediynes or unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes in moderate to excellent yields (up to 99%) in the different Pd-phosphine catalytic systems.