Effect of temperature on triazole and bistriazole formation through copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition

Temperature is an important factor in the copper catalyzed alkyne azide cycloaddition under oxidative conditions. 1,2,3-Triazoles were obtained in high yields when several alkynes and azides were reacted at methanol reflux using catalytic amounts of both copper iodide and sodium hydroxide. On the other hand, bistriazoles were major products when reactions were performed at −35 °C using excess sodium hydroxide.