A new and smooth approach towards alkynylphosphine derivatives is described. It relies on the unprecedented catalytic coupling of secondary phosphine boranes with alkynyl bromides using the CuI/1,10-phenanthroline couple.
Copperâphosphido-borane complexes were synthesized and isolated for the first time. Their structures were experimentally and computationally investigated. They were shown to display catalytic activity in CspâP bond formation.