A practical procedure of propargylation of aldehydes

An operationally simple procedure of propargylation of aldehydes in moist solvent (distilled THF) has been developed through direct addition of propargyl bromide to aldehyde substrates mediated with low valent iron or tin. The metals were spontaneously prepared in situ employing bimetal redox strategy. Using different aldehydes as substrates (3a–k) both these metal mediated reactions took place producing homopropargyl alcohols (4a–k) in good yields in all cases and with high chemoselectivity in most of the cases (Table 1). Due to its efficacy, operational simplicity, performance in moist solvent, and being comprised of the use of inexpensive metal/metal salts, the procedure is practically viable and potentially scalable.