An efficient and easily scalable NHC–copper(I) halide–catalyzed addition of terminal alkynes to 1,1,1-trifluoromethylketones, carried out on water for the first time, is reported. The first enantioselective version of a direct alkynylation in the presence of C<sub>1</sub> symmetric NHC-copper(I) complexes is also presented. Here DFT calculations rationalize the yield with just the sterics on the NHC.

Sterical index to predict the reactivity of alkynes

251st National Meeting (2016)

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