Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative sp-sp2 Cross-Coupling Reactions of Aryl and Vinyl Halides and Triflates with α,β-Ynoic Acids using Silver Oxide

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative sp-sp(2) cross-coupling reactions of aryl and vinyl halides and triflates with alpha,beta-ynoic acids using silver oxide have been developed. A variety of alpha,beta-ynoic acids were readily decarboxylated in the presence of silver oxide and then, generated in situ, silver acetylides were coupled with electrophiles in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst under neutral conditions, producing either symmetrical or unsymmetrical diarylacetylenes, arylalkylacetylenes and arylvinylacetylenes in good to excellent yields.