Pd catalyzed couplings of “superactive esters” and terminal alkynes: Application to flavones and γ-benzopyranones construction

Lewis base, N-methylmorpholine (NMM) accelerated Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of steric hindered super active esters, 1a–1e, and terminal alkynes. This approach provided an efficient synthetic protocol for a broad array of acylated o-alkynoylphenols compounds, 3a–3e, under moderate conditions. The mechanistic study clearly demonstrated that NNM stabilized the catalytic palladium species, and accelerated the leaving of triazine moiety during the catalytic cycle of the cross-coupling reactions. In addition, piperazine was found to efficiently catalyze the 6-endo cyclization of acylated o-alkynoylphenols, which achieved the diversity oriented synthesis of γ-benzopyranones, 4aa–4eg, with 93–99% yields.