Utility of Dysprosium as a Reductant in Coupling Reactions of Acyl Chlorides: The Synthesis of Amides and Diaryl-Substituted Acetylenes.

Reduction of acyl chlorides with dysprosium metal has been studied. The reducing ability of dysprosium metal is solvent-dependent. Dysprosium metal, which requires neither any additive nor pretreatment, can promote the cross-coupling of acyl chlorides in DMF or DEF to give amides in good yields. When the reaction was performed in N,N-dimethylacetamide, the reductive self-coupling reaction of aroyl chloride took place smoothly and afforded the diaryl-substituted acetylenes in moderate to good yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]