Coupling of 6- and 2-halo-9-phenyl-9H-purines (1, 2, and 5) with terminal acetylenes in dimethylformamide (DMF) was well catalyzed by bis(triphenylphosphino)palladium chloride [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂]to give the corresponding alkynyl-9-phenyl-9H-purines (3 and 4).Conversion of alkynyl-9-phenyl-9H-purines (3 and 4) into the corresponding purinylmethyl ketones (6 and 7) was achieved by treatment with an aqueous solution of mercuric sulfate and sulfuric acid (method A) or with piperidine and oxalic acid dihydrate (method B). On the other hand a trimethylsilylethynyl group on the 9H-purine ring was converted into an acetyl group by hydration using method A.Addition of sodium methoxide to 6-(trimethylsilylethynyl)-9-phenyl-9H-purine (3d) took place to give 6-(2, 2-dimethoxyethyl)-9-phenyl-9H-purine (10), while 2-(trimethylsilylethynyl)-9-phenyl-9H-purine (4c) reacted with sodium methoxide under the same conditions to give 2-(2-methoxyethenyl)-9-phenyl-9H-purine (11).