Friendly competition: A three‐component reaction system composed of calcium carbide, an aryl aldehyde, and an amine gave enaminones or propargylamines (see picture) in a predictable manner through competitive pathways. The system enables the cost‐efficient synthesis of a variety of enaminones from readily accessible small molecules and demonstrates the versatility of the acetylide ion, which can be used to bridge electrophiles and nucleophiles.

No abstract

The three‐component reaction of aryl aldehyde, calcium carbide and a bulky secondary amine provides a direct synthesis of enaminones (IV).