Iron-catalyzed alkynylation of tertiary aliphatic amines with 1-iodoalkynes to synthesize propargylamines

A method of alkynylation of tertiary aliphatic amines with 1-iodoalkynes has been developed in the presence of FeCl2 as a catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant. With this method, a variety of propargylamines were obtained in good to excellent yields from inexpensive and readily available reagents. The studies on the possible reaction pathway suggest that this reaction proceeds through a radical process.