Synthesis, characterization of active Sn(0), and its application in selective propargylation of aldehyde at room temperature in water

Active Sn(0) particles are synthesized in high yields by the chemical reduction of the blue-black stannous oxide using freshly prepared sodium stannite solution as reducing agent at 40 degrees C and 60 degrees C. The Sn(0) particles are characterized using powder XRD, SEM, and DSC. The as-synthesized Sn(0) particles are applied as reagent for the regioselective synthesis of homopropargyl alcohols from propargyl bromide and aldehydes in distilled water at room temperature (in 50%-84% yields). No assistance of heat, microwave, ultrasound, organic co-solvent, co-reagent, or inert atmosphere is required for this reaction. The propargylation reaction is highly chemoselective towards aldehyde over other less electrophilic carbonyl functional groups such as ketone, amide, and carboxylic acid. Our in-house synthesized homopropargyl alcohols can be used to synthesize conjugated 1,3-diynes.