Direct Catalytic Synthesis of Ynamides from Alkynes

Significance

This article describes the first direct catalytic synthesis of ynamides from alkynes. The reaction proceeds under aerobic conditions with Cu(II) catalysis. Amidation was generally achieved with moderate to high yields for a broad range of substrates. Remarkably, pyrrolidinone does not efficiently react with phenylacetylene under the given conditions. Coupling with the electron-rich triisopropylacetylene, however, was observed.