Z-selective dimerization of aromatic terminal alkynes catalyzed by an iridium(I) n-heterocyclic carbene-phosphine system

The development of an iridium-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective dimerization process has enabled the formation of ( Z )-enyne products. More specifically, low catalyst loadings of an iridium(I) complex, featuring a bulky N-heterocyclic carbene–phosphine ligand combination, has been successfully employed in this selective head-to-head dimerization of terminal alkynes via C–H activation.