An efficient synthesis of propargylamines via three-component coupling of aldehydes, amines and alkynes catalyzed by nanocrystalline copper(II) oxide

An efficient three-component coupling of aldehydes, amines and alkynes to prepare propargylamines, in nearly quantitative yields using nanocrystalline CuO as a catalyst is described. Structurally divergent aldehydes and amines were converted to the corresponding propargylamines. The reaction does not require any co-catalyst. After completion of the reaction, the catalyst was recovered by centrifugation and reused several times with only a slight decrease of activity observed under the same reaction conditions.