Palladium- and base-free synthesis of conjugated ynones by cross-coupling reactions of alkynylboronates with acid chlorides mediated by CuCl

Alkynylboronates can be employed as a practical and versatile precursor for a variety of π-conjugated organic compounds. In the presence of Cu(I) salt, cross-coupling reactions of acid chlorides with alkynylboronates giving rise to the corresponding conjugated ynones takes place readily in aprotic polar solvents such as DMI under neutral conditions.