Metallomicelle catalyzed aerobic tandem desilylation/Glaser reaction in water

PEG-grafted nitrogen ligands were synthesized. The corresponding copper complexes serve as metallomicellar nanoreactors for the aerobic tandem desilylation/Glaser coupling of TMS-protected alkynes in water. The protocol is also suitable for base-free homocoupling of terminal alkynes. The metallomicellar catalyst could be recycled 5 times with minor loss of reactivity.