Synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,1'-disubstituted bis(1,2,3-triazole)s using monosilylbutadiynes

Abstract

Bis(1,2,3-triazole)s have attracted recent interest as coordinating ligands for transition metals. Here we report a rapid, modular method for the synthesis of 1,1'-disubstituted-4,4'-linked unsymmetrical bis(1,2,3-triazole)s. The method employs sequential copper catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition and deprotection steps on a monosilylbutadiyne. TMS (trimethylsilyl) and TIPS (triisopropylsilyl) were both investigated with TIPS being the preferred protecting group due to increased stability. The reactions were amenable to one-pot synthesis, and an optimized one-pot, three-step procedure was developed.