Propargylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with 1,3-diarylpropynes via oxidative cross-coupling between sp3 C-H and sp3 C-H.

A highly efficient oxidative-coupling reaction between diarylpropargylic sp(3) C-H and active methylenic sp(3) C-H was achieved with DDQ as oxidant. The reaction afforded a direct method for the propargylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, thus providing a concise synthesis of the corresponding products.