Synthesis of substituted acetylenes, aryl–alkyl ethers, 2-alkene-4-ynoates and nitriles using heterogeneous mesoporous Pd-MCM-48 as reusable catalyst

Pd-MCM-48 has been employed as a heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of substituted acetylenes via Sonogashira reactions under copper and amine-free reaction conditions. In addition, the catalyst exhibited excellent regioselectivity for primary alcohols towards C–O coupling leading to formation of alkyl–aryl ethers in high yields. A green procedure for the stereoselective synthesis of 2-alkene-4-ynoates and nitriles from the reactions of vic-(E)-diiodoalkenes with activated alkenes has also been demonstrated using Pd-MCM-48 catalyst. The catalyst was easily recovered from the reaction mixture by filtration and reused for at least six times with minimal loss of activity.