Facile one-pot synthesis of diarylacetylenes from arylaldehydes via an addition-double elimination process.

A practical one-pot protocol has been developed to synthesize diarylacetylenes from arylaldehydes by treatment with 1-(arylmethyl)benzotriazoles and LiN(SiMe3)2. The reaction proceeded through imine formation, Mannich-type addition and double elimination to deliver products in up to 99% yields with broad substrate scope. In addition, gram-scale synthesis of 1-bromo-4-(phenylethynyl)benzene has been demonstrated.