Efficient synthesis of quinoline–enone esters via copper-catalyzed coupling with electron-deficient alkynes and exploration of fluorescence in difluoroboron complexes

Abstract

A copper-catalyzed, atom-economic coupling of quinoline N-oxides with electron-deficient alkynes yields quinolinyl–enone esters (up to 99%, 100 : 1 high regioselectivity). This protocol facilitates late-stage functionalization and construction of novel BF₂ complexes with large Stokes shifts (up to 80 nm) for optoelectronic applications.