Copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition microwave-assisted

The alkynyl functionality of alkynones 1 is perfectly suited for subsequent copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) in the sense of an MCR (2015ASC(357)617). A microwave-assisted three-component reaction of aroyl chlorides 4, TMS-substituted acetylene (5a), and benzyl azide (10a) consisting of modified Sonogashira cross-coupling I, desilylation, and CuAAC furnishes 4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles 11 in moderate to excellent yields (Scheme 5) (201 OOL(12)4936). 

A microwave-assisted three-component reaction has been used to prepare a series of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles with complete control of regiose-lectivity by click chemistry , a fast and efficient approach to novel functionalized compounds using near perfect reactions [76]. In this user-friendly procedure for the copper(l) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azides and alkynes, irradiation of an alkyl halide, sodium azide, an alkyne and the Cu(l) catalyst, produced by the comproportionation of Cu(0) and Cu(ll), at 125 °C for 10-15 min, or at 75 °C for certain substrates, generated the organic azide in situ and gave the 1,4-disubstituted regioisomer 43 in 81-93% yield, with no contamination by the 1,5-regioisomer (Scheme 18). 

Bottom-line comments. Copper-catalyzed click chemistry is experimentally too easy and works too well in most cases not to be strongly considered as a means of stitching together just about any terminal alkyne and azide. The regiospecificity for 1,4-disubstituted heteroaromatic triazoles is complemented by the corresponding ruthenium-catalyzed cycloadditions to afford 1,5-adducts. And with options for heterogeneous processes, microwave-assisted thermal rate enhancements, and solvent-free conditions, click chemistry has become, and rightfully so, a tremendously powerful tool in synthesis. 

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