CuCl2-catalyzed highly stereoselective and chemoselective reduction of alkynyl amides into α,β-unsaturated amides using silanes as hydrogen donors

A CuH-catalyzed Z-selective transfer semi-hydrogenation of alkynyl amides to afford α,β- unsaturated amides using silane as the hydrogen donor is developed. These reactions are carried out under mild conditions and able to accommodate broad scope of alkynyl amides including those bearing with a terminal carbon-carbon double bond or triple bond, affording alkenyl amides with high stereoselectivity and excellent yields.