Metal‐Free Decarboxylation of Alkynoic Acids for the Synthesis of Terminal Alkynes

Terminal alkynes were readily obtained via the reaction of alkynoic acids with N,N,N’,N’‐teramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) in DMSO at 65 °C for 12 h. This method gave good yields and showed high functional group tolerance. In addition, deuterated terminal alkynes were formed in good yields when alkynoic acids were treated with D2O prior to the reaction with TMEDA. In the presence of TMEDA, alkynoic acid derivatives afforded the corresponding terminal alkynes in good yields.