Alkyne metathesis: toward simplicity and efficiency

No catalyst pre-activation, no suicide alkyne, and no additive is required in an extremely simple procedure for the metathesis of alkyl-, alkenyl-, and aryl-propynes: just mix Mo(CO)6, p-chlorophenol, and the alkyne in 1,2-dichloroethane, heat at 85 °C for 9-24 h, and the symmetrical alkyne is produced in ca. 95% yield.

The use of 1,2-dichloroethane as a solvent of the classical Mortreux' catalytic system enables metathesis of alkyl-, vinyl-, or aryl-propynes under mild conditions through an extremely simple procedure.