A General Access to Propargylic Ethers through Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Alkynylation of Acetals and Ketals with Trifluoroborates

Abstract

A general Brønsted acid catalyzed methodology for the alkynylation of acetals and ketals with alkynyltrifluoroborate salts has been developed. The reaction proceeds rapidly to afford valuable synthetic building block propargylic ethers in good to excellent yields. Unlike Lewis acid catalyzed transformations of trifluoroborates, this approach does not proceed via unstable organodifluoroborane intermediate. As a result, the developed methodology features excellent functional group tolerance and good atom economy. Brønsted acid catalyzed alkynylation of acetals and ketals is described. Alkynyltrifluoroborate salts react rapidly to afford propargylic ethers. Organodifluoroborane, which is a common intermediate in Lewis acid catalyzed reactions of trifluoroborates, has not been observed. The reaction exhibits generally high yields and excellent functional group tolerance.