Silver-catalyzed Glaser coupling of alkynes

Excellent yields were obtained from the silver nitrate-catalyzed homocoupling reaction of alkynes in N,N-dimethylformamide using triphenylphosphine as ligand. This safe and simple silver catalytic system has been employed in a safe and efficient protocol for the synthesis of various 1,3-diyne products from the corresponding aromatic or aliphatic alkynes with good air stability and absence of side products. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.