Design of efficient benzimidazole-derived N-heterocyclic carbene Ag(I) catalysts for aldehyde–amine–alkyne coupling

A mild catalytic protocol for aldehyde, amine, and alkyne coupling (A³-coupling) allows for the selective synthesis of propargyl amines using 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole-derived N-heterocyclic carbene (BNHC) silver(I) catalysts. A series of BNHC Ag(Ⅰ) halide complexes were synthesized and their structures have been elucidated through the use of multinuclear NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the pseudo-linear geometry of two different compounds was substantiated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Silver-based A³-coupling was achieved for both acyclic and cyclic secondary amines using a diverse set of alkynes to afford propargyl amines with yields of up to 95 %. The present approach is environmentally benign and water is generated as the sole byproduct.