Cationic Alkynyl Heck Reaction toward Substituted Allenes Using BobCat: A New Hybrid Pd(0)-Catalyst Incorporating a Water-Soluble dba Ligand.

The cationic alkynyl Heck reaction between aryl triflates and alkynes to give substituted allenes is described. Key to the success of this method was the discovery and development of a new hybrid Pd(0)-catalyst, BobCat, that incorporates a water-soluble dba-ligand and biaryl phosphine ligand to provide substituted allenes in good yields under mild reaction conditions.