Copper on Iron: Catalyst and Scavenger for Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition

Abstract

Dipolar cycloaddition of terminal alkynes and azides catalyzed by the Cu/Fe bimetallic system is reported. In the presence of a readily accessible nanosized copper source, the cycloaddition reaction can be easily achieved at ambient temperature with high efficiency. The product obtained from the reaction catalyzed by Cu/Fe contains significantly lower copper contaminants compared to various active homogeneous copper complexes. Iron not only behaves as support for copper, but acts as a redox scavenger, and reduces the copper contamination of the organic product.

Key words

alkynes - azides - copper - iron - supported catalysis

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