A novel application of terminal alkynes as the homogeneous catalysts for acetalization and esterification

The theoretical study focused on the possible use of low-molecular-weight mono-as well as multifunctional terminal alkynes as catalysts for two reactions, which are known to be typically acid catalyzed - acetalization and esterification, is presented in this study. Multifunctional terminal alkynes (diethynylbenzenes, triethynylbenzene, and tetrakis(4-ethynylphenyl)methane] were significantly more active than the monofunctional ones (cyclopropylacetylene, phenylacetylene, 3-cyclohexylprop-1-yne, 1-ethynyl-2-fluorobenzene, 1-ethynyl-4-fluorobenzene, 4-ethynyltoluene, 4-tert-butylphenylacetylene, and 2-ethynyl-α,α,α-trifluorotoluene), this fact can be partly explained by the higher amount of ethynyl groups per alkyne molecule. We confirmed that terminal ethynyl groups in low-molecular-weight alkynes can successfully act as acid catalytic centers for acetalization as well as for esterification.