Development of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction: Use of air-stable potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates in aryl alkynylations

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates with aryl halides or triflates proceeds readily with moderate to excellent yields. The potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates are air- and moisture-stable crystalline solids that can be stored indefinitely, which will provide an advantage in applications to combinatorial chemistry. The alkynyl cross-coupling reaction can be effected using 9 mol % of PdCl2(dppf).CH2Cl2 as catalyst in THF or THF-H2O in the presence of Cs2CO3 as the inorganic base. A variety of functional groups are tolerated in both partners.