Copper-catalyzed multiple oxidation and cycloaddition of aryl-alkyl ketones (alcohols) for the synthesis of 4-acyl- and 4-diketo-1,2,3-triazoles.

A Cu/TEMPO-catalyzed tandem multiple oxidative dehydrogenation and cycloaddition has been developed, which affords 4-acyl-1,2,3-triazoles and 4-diketo-1,2,3-triazoles from readily-available aryl-alkyl ketones (or alcohols) and different organic azides. Moreover, the reaction used environmentally friendly dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as the solvent and air as the oxidant, and H2O was the only by-product, so it provides a green and practical synthetic method for 1,2,3-triazoles.