A solution of bromine (1.72 ml) in dry dichloromethane (10 ml) was added dropwise to a stirred, cooled (-5° C.), solution of triphenylphosphine (8.74 g) in dry dichloromethane (140 ml) whilst maintaining the temperature below 0° C. The solution was stirred for a further ten minutes at 0° C., then treated dropwise over one hour with a solution of the above alcohol (12.17 g) and triethylamine (4.64 ml) in dry dichloromethane (200 ml). After ten minutes, the mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue chromatographed on silica, using dichloromethane-ether (25:2) as eluant, to give 1-bromo-3(1-trityl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)prop-2-yne (8.10 g, m.p. 181-183° C. dec). NMR (CDCl3): δ 4.1(2H,s), 7.05-7.35(15H,m), 7.95(1H,s). M/S: M+ 427,429.
