NHC-Copper(I) Halide-Catalyzed Direct Alkynylation of Trifluoromethyl Ketones on Water.

An efficient and easily scalable NHC-copper(I) halide-catalyzed addition of terminal alkynes to 1,1,1-trifluoromethyl ketones, carried out on water for the first time, is reported. A series of addition reactions were performed with as little as 0.1-2.