A Simple and Efficient Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of N-Alkynylimidazoles

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of N-alkynylheteroarenes from 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes was developed via a copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Generally superior yields and functional-group tolerance were obtained with TMEDA as ligand using imidazole and benzimidazole substrates in dioxane.