Single electron transfer-induced coupling of alkynylzinc reagents with aryl and alkenyl iodides.

Alkynylzinc reagents were found to undergo coupling with aryl and alkenyl iodides to give arylalkynes and alkenylalkynes without the aid of transition metals. The coupling reaction proceeds through a single electron transfer mechanism, where a substoichiometric amount of a phosphine works as an indispensable activator.