Highly efficient and scale-up synthesis of propargylamines catalyzed by graphene oxide-supported CuCl2 catalyst under microwave condition

•GO-CuCl2 was prepared from GO support.•Propargylamines are readily obtained in good to excellent yields and on multi-gram scale.•GO-CuCl2 could be easily recovered and reused at least five recycles.

An efficient, green and practical approach was developed to synthesize propargylamines using recyclable GO-CuCl2via a one-pot multicomponent aldehyde–alkyne–amine (A3) coupling reaction. The propargylamines are readily obtained in good to excellent yields (85–96%) and on multi-gram scale (88%, 150 mmol) under microwave irradiation. GO-CuCl2 could be easily recovered through filtration and reused at least five recycles with no significant decreases in the yields.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide