Chinese scientists have made a new breakthrough in the preparation of alkynes from alkenes

Olefins and alkynes are important building blocks in modern synthetic chemistry, with immense research and application value. Chinese scientists have overcome the international challenge of preparing alkynes from olefins, a problem that has remained unresolved for over a century, with the help of a reagent with special activity. This breakthrough lays the foundation for the rapid acquisition of structurally diverse alkynes and the development of new drugs. The achievement was published online in the international authoritative journal Nature in the early morning of the 17th.

Olefins are widely used due to their abundant sources and low cost, whereas alkynes are limited in variety and expensive. How to efficiently convert cheap olefins into alkynes has been a focal point of continuous attention in the scientific community. However, traditional methods for synthesizing alkynes from olefins require high temperatures and strong alkalis, with harsh reaction conditions and a narrow range of applicability, severely restricting the application and industrial development of alkynes. Despite ongoing efforts in the chemical community, a mild and practical alternative has yet to be found.

Professor Jiao Ning's team from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Peking University and the National Key Laboratory for Natural and Bionic Drugs at Peking University has abandoned the halogens used in traditional methods and, in conjunction with catalytic performance research, discovered that selenium-containing heterocyclic molecules - selenanthracene - possess unique structures and excellent activity, enabling efficient conversion of olefins to alkynes under weakly alkaline and mild conditions.

It is reported that since the advent of such molecules more than a century ago, there have been few studies on their application in synthetic reactions. The research team discovered that the reaction conditions for preparing alkyne from olefin catalyzed by selenanthracene are mild, compatible with various sensitive functional groups, and capable of achieving complex molecular modifications. Additionally, the preparation method of selenanthracene is simple, stable, easy to store, and recyclable for reuse.

"We have successfully obtained high-value alkyne derivatives using a variety of commercially available olefins and naturally derived olefins as structural templates," said Jiao Ning. This research not only broadens the synthesis pathways of alkyne derivatives, but also holds promise for optimizing the supply structure of certain fine chemicals, reducing dependence on complex synthesis pathways, and providing richer and more economical sources of alkyne derivatives for the pharmaceutical, pesticide, material, and other fields.