title: Formation of a carbon-carbon triple bond by coupling reactions in aqueous solution.
abstract: Formation of a carbon-carbon triple bond by coupling reactions usually takes place at high temperatures, in anhydrous media and anaerobic conditions. We describe the formation of a carbon-carbon triple bond at room temperature in an aqueous solution exposed to the atmosphere. Two ethylidyne ligands of a trimolybdenum cluster coupled spontaneously to form 2-butyne. This unexpected result demonstrates the plausibility of alkylidyne chain lengthening and metathesis processes under ambient, environmentally friendly conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel. bino@vms.huji.ac.il
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bino
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardon
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shirman