Palladium catalysed regio- and stereoselective synthesis of (E)-4-aryl-1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)but-3-en-1-ynes

A practical and general synthetic approach to a series of 4-aryl-but-3-en-1-ynes is described. In the presence of palladium complexes a variety of aryl bromides (or iodides) undergo coupling with two equivalents of trimethylsilylacetylene with the formation of (E)-4-aryl-1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)but-3-en-1-ynes. The protocol is simple, efficient, and affords synthesis of regio- and stereoselectively target products in good to high yields.