Facile addition of alkynes to aza-aromatic systems: a new protocol for the preparation of 2-alkynyl-1,2-dihydroquinolines

1-Alkynes undergo smooth addition to activated quinolines, isoquinolines and pyridines in the presence of copper iodide/iPr2NEt under extremely mild conditions to afford 2-alkynyl-1,2-dihydroquinolines in excellent yields with high selectivity. This method is also useful for functionalization of monocyclic pyridines.