“…33 The palladium-catalyzed terminal alkyne dimerization, through oxidative homocoupling, is a useful approach to the synthesis of symmetrical 1,4-diynes. Reported protocols for the oxidative homocoupling reactions include: (1) use of Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , CuI, Et 3 N and chloroacetone (as the reoxidant) in benzene; 34 (2) 38 In all of the above cases, a stoichiometric amount of oxidant is required for successful homocoupling reactions. Owing to the inertness of the NHC-Pd(II) complexes towards oxygen and moisture, they have been used as catalysts in aerobic oxidation of alcoholes 33,39 and aerobic intramolecular Wacker-type cyclization reactions.…”