Pd-catalyzed copper-free carbonylative Sonogashira reaction of aryl iodides with alkynes for the synthesis of alkynyl ketones and flavones by using water as a solvent.

The Pd-catalyzed copper-free carbonylative Sonogashira coupling reaction to synthesize alkynyl ketones from terminal alkynes and aryl iodides was achieved by using water as a solvent. The reaction was carried out at room temperature under balloon pressure of CO with Et(3)N as a base. The developed method was successfully applied to the synthesis of flavones.