Review Acetylene in Organic Synthesis: Recent Progress and New Uses Vladimir V. Voronin 1, Maria S. Ledovskaya 1, Alexander S. Bogachenkov 1, Konstantin S. Rodygin 1 and Valentine P. Ananikov 1,2,* 1 Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetsky prospect 26, Peterhof 198504, Russia;
[email protected] (V.V.V.);
[email protected] (M.S.L.);
[email protected] (A.S.B.);
[email protected] (K.S.R.) 2 N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect 47, Moscow 119991, Russia * Correspondence:
[email protected] Received: 16 August 2018; Accepted: 17 September 2018; Published: 24 September 2018 Abstract: Recent progress in the leading synthetic applications of acetylene is discussed from the prospect of rapid development and novel opportunities. A diversity of reactions involving the acetylene molecule to carry out vinylation processes, cross-coupling reactions, synthesis of substituted alkynes, preparation of heterocycles and the construction of a number of functionalized molecules with different levels of molecular complexity were recently studied. Of particular importance is the utilization of acetylene in the synthesis of pharmaceutical substances and drugs. The increasing interest in acetylene and its involvement in organic transformations highlights a fascinating renaissance of this simplest alkyne molecule. Keywords: acetylene; vinylation; cross-coupling; addition reactions; drugs; pharmaceutical substances; biologically active molecule; monomers; polymers 1. Introduction Since the discovery of acetylene, new areas of acetylene chemistry have been continuously developed. The rich scope of chemical transformations available for a C≡C triple bond can be exemplified by coupling [1–5] and addition reactions [6,7].