DABCO

DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclooctane) is an organic compound with the formula N2(C2H4)3. This colorless solid is a highly nucleophilic amine, which is used as a catalyst and reagent in polymerization and organic synthesis. DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclooctane) is an organic compound with the formula N2(C2H4)3. This colorless solid is a highly nucleophilic amine, which is used as a catalyst and reagent in polymerization and organic synthesis. Quinuclidine has a similar structure, with one of the nitrogen atoms replaced by a CH group. The pKa of + (the protonated derivative) is 8.8, which is almost the same as ordinary alkylamines. The nucleophilicity of the amine is high because the amine centers are unhindered. It is sufficiently basic to promote C–C coupling of terminal acetylenes, for example, phenylacetylene couples with electron-deficient iodoarenes.