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Acetylene is one of the primary starting materials for chemical synthesis. However, acetylene is a highly flammable gas, dangerous and difficult to use in regular research laboratories. A novel solid acetylene regent has been developed to make chemical applications safer.

A combination of two simple compounds – calcium carbide (CaC₂) and potassium fluoride (KF) – creates a very efficient acetylene reagent with enhanced reactivity. In the presence of water, acetylene is generated in this system, and is activated towards an in situ reaction with alcohols and phenols. Efficient vinylation converts the hydroxyl group (–OH) of alcohols and phenols into the H₂C=CH-O- building block. The hydroxyl group is a widespread functional group involved in a number of core organic transformations. Post-modification of drugs and biologically active molecules is an emerging area of very demanding applications of the vinylation reaction described. Biomedicine, material science and production of monomers are other well-appreciated areas of application of such vinyl monomers.

Mechanistic studies by experiment and computations have revealed two important factors: (1) the etching of the surface of CaC₂ by KF in the solid state; and (2) the fluoride-mediated activation in solution, which governs the enhanced reactivity in the developed system. The CaC₂/KF system described in the present study has crucial advantages compared to gaseous acetylene.

Acetylene is a fundamental organic molecule. However, acetylene is a flammable and explosive gas, which is very difficult to handle in laboratory. Using high-pressure acetylene requires complicated and expensive equipment with stringent safety regulations. The CaC₂/KF system described in the present study has crucial advantages compared to gaseous acetylene. This efficient CaC₂/KF solid acetylene reagent, a has a number of remarkable applications.