Phenylacetylene

Phenylacetylene is an alkyne hydrocarbon containing a phenyl group. It exists as a colorless, viscous liquid. In research, it is sometimes used as an analog for acetylene; being a liquid, it is easier to handle than acetylene gas.

Preparation
In the laboratory, phenylacetylene can be prepared by elimination of hydrogen bromide from styrene dibromide using sodium amide in ammonia. It can also be prepared by the elimination of hydrogen bromide from bromostyrene using molten potassium hydroxide.

Reactions

 * Phenylacetylene can be reduced (hydrogenated) by hydrogen over Lindlar catalyst to give styrene.

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 * It undergoes a metal catalyzed trimerization to give 1,2,4- (97 %) and 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene.


 * It undergoes gold-catalyzed hydrolysis to give acetophenone.