Copper(II)-dipicolinate-mediated clickable azide-alkyne cycloaddition in water as solvent

Abstract : Copper(II)-dipicolinate complex [CuIIL(H2O)2] (1) (H2L = dipicolinic acid (H2dipic)) was synthesized via oxidation of copper(I) iodide and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid in water and acetonitrile in the presence of glycine. Complex 1 was characterized by FT-IR and elemental analysis and its structure confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. This complex is an efficient precatalyst that mediates azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions in water at room temperature either in the absence or presence of a reducing agent. Compound 1-mediated azide-alkyne cycloaddition affords alkyl/aryl substituted 1,2,3-triazole heterocycles in a regioselective manner and excellent yields under very mild reaction conditions matching the criteria of greener protocols.