Catalytic Alkyne Arylation Using Amines as Traceless Directing Groups

By developing a Pd(0)/Mandyphos catalyst, we have achieved a three-component aminoarylation of alkynes to generate enamines, which upon hydrolysis yield either <i>α</i>-arylphenones or <i>α</i>,<i>α</i>-diarylketones. This Pd-catalyzed method overcomes well-established pathways to enable the use of amines as traceless directing groups for C–C bond formation