An Improved One-pot Procedure for the Synthesis of Alkynes from Aldehydes

The transformation of aldehydes to terminal alkynes can be achieved with the reagent dimethyl-1-diazo-2-oxopropylphosphonate 2. The one-pot procedure allows the isolation of the products under very mild conditions in good to excellent yields without requiring low temperatures or inert gas techniques and avoiding the use of strong bases.