Nickel‐Catalyzed Synthesis of N‐Aryl‐1,2‐dihydropyridines by [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Imines with Alkynes through T‐Shaped 14‐Electron Aza‐Nickelacycle Key Intermediates

Despite there being a straightforward approach for the synthesis of 1,2‐dihydropyridines, the transition‐metal‐catalyzed 2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of imines with alkynes has been achieved only with imines containing an N‐sulfonyl or ‐pyridyl group. Considering the importance of 1,2‐dihydropyridines as useful intermediates in the preparation of a wide range of valuable organic molecules, it would be very worthwhile to provide novel strategies to expand the scope of imines. Herein we report a successful expansion of the scope of imines in nickel‐catalyzed 2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions with alkynes. In the presence of a nickel(0)/PCy₃ catalyst, a reaction with N‐benzylidene‐P,P‐diphenylphosphinic amide was developed. Moreover, an application of N‐aryl imines to the reaction was also achieved by adopting N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands. The isolation of an (η²‐N‐aryl imine)nickel(0) complex containing a 14‐electron nickel(0) center and a T‐shaped 14‐electron five‐membered aza‐nickelacycle is shown. These would be considered as key intermediates of the reaction. The structure of these complexes was unambiguously determined by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray analyses.