Tetrabutylammonium fluoride-induced dehydrobromination of vinyl bromides to terminal acetylenes

Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) was found to be a mild and efficient base for the dehydrobromination of vinyl bromides. Treatment of various 2-bromo-1-alkenes with TBAF·3H2O in DMF yielded terminal acetylenes in high yields without undue regard to the presence of water.