A number of relatively volatile acetylenes RC = CH (R = aryl or hetary
l) have been prepared with high yields by heating a mixture of the cor
responding alcohols RC = CC(CH3)(2)OH and paraffin oil with small amou
nts of powdered potassium hydroxide in vacuum. The alcohols were obtai
ned by Pd/Cu-catalyzed cross coupling of aryl or hetaryl halides RX (X
= Pr, in one case I) with the commercially available HC = CC(CH3)(2)O
H.