Nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynes and isocyanates

A mild and general route for preparing 2-pyridones from isocyanates and diynes is described. Ni imidazolyidene complexes were used to mediate cyclizations between both internal and terminal diynes with aryl and alkyl isocyanates. In addition, the efficacy of this protocol allows for the preparation of a fused seven-membered pyridone and for three component cyclizations.     

Nickel-catalyzed reductive electrocarboxylation of disubstituted alkynes

Electrochemically reduced Ni(bipy)₃(BF₄)₂ catalyzes the reaction of carbon dioxide with disubstituted alkynes to yield mono- and di-carboxylated derivatives. The reaction is performed under mild conditions in an undivided cell fitted with a sacrificial magnesium anode.     

Nickel-catalyzed addition of alkynylboranes to alkynes

Alkynylboration has been achieved in the reaction of alkynyl(pinacol)boranes with alkynes in the presence of nickel catalysts, giving cis-1-borylbut-1-en-3-yne derivatives. 1-Aryl-1-alkynes underwent the alkynylboration regioselectively with the selective introduction of the alkynyl groups at their 1-positions, where the aryl groups were attached. The boryl-substituted enynes were reacted with sp2 halides under the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling conditions, giving highly conjugated enynes in high yields.     

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of alkynes and epoxides

Nickel-catalyzed, intramolecular and intermolecular reductive coupling of alkynes and epoxides affords synthetically useful homoallylic alcohols of defined alkene geometry. Very high regioselectivity is generally observed, and cyclizations proceed with complete selectivity for endo epoxide opening. This catalytic reaction represents the first use of a non-pi-based electrophile in a growing class of nickel-catalyzed, multicomponent coupling reactions, and is the first catalytic method of reductive coupling of alkynes and epoxides that is effective for both intermolecular and intramolecular cases, and mechanistically distinct from these, possibly involving a nickella(II)oxetane.     

Nickel-catalyzed cycloadditions of thiophthalic anhydrides with alkynes

Nickel-catalyzed cycloadditions have been developed where thiophthalic anhydrides react with alkynes to afford substituted sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds. Selective formations of thioisocoumarins, benzothiophenes, and thiochromones were accomplished with three different reaction conditions.     

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular codimerization of acrylates and alkynes

The linear codimerization of acrylates and alkynes to produce 1,3-dienes is successfully demonstrated using a nickel catalyst in association with 2-aminopyridine as an additive.     

Nickel-catalyzed decarbonylative addition of phthalimides to alkynes

An intermolecular nickel-catalyzed addition reaction has been developed where N-arylphthalimides react with alkynes to afford substituted isoquinolones. A mechanistic rationale is proposed, implying nucleophilic attack of Ni(0) to an amide as the primary step of the catalytic cycle.     

Nickel-catalyzed thioallylation of alkynes with allyl phenyl sulfides

Allylic sulfides add to alkynes in the presence of nickel complexes efficiently to afford thio-1,4-dienes regio- and stereoselectively. Functional groups such as alkoxy, siloxy, hydroxy, carboalkoxy, chloro, and cyano groups are tolerated. A mechanism that involves a pi-allyl nickel intermediate is proposed on the basis of isolation of pi-allyl complexes and distribution of products in the reactions of alpha- or gamma-methylated allyl sulfide. [reaction: see text].     

Nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition of anthranilic acid derivatives to alkynes

A nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition has been developed where readily available anthranilic acid derivatives react with alkynes to afford substituted indoles. The reaction involves oxidative addition of Ni(0) to an ester moiety, which allows intermolecular addition to alkynes via decarbonylation and 1,3-acyl migration.     

Nickel-catalyzed tetramerization of alkynes: synthesis and structure of octatetraenes

In the presence of a catalytic system comprised of NiBr(2)(dppe) and Zn, arylacetylenes undergo tetramerization to form linear octatetraenes, generally in good to excellent yields. The structure of the coupling products was verified by X-ray crystallography.     

Nickel-catalyzed trans-alkynylboration of alkynes via activation of a boron-chlorine bond

Reaction of (diisopropylamino)chloroboryl ethers of alkynols with alkynylstannanes in the presence of nickel catalysts afforded formal trans-alkynylboration products in good yields. The products were isolated as pinacol boronates after treatment of the crude reaction mixture with acetic anhydride and pinacol in the presence of a base. The trans-alkynylboration products underwent Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction with organic halides. A 2-borylalkenylnickel(II) complex, in which the boryl and nickel groups are located in a trans fashion, was isolated in a reaction of the chloroboryl ether with a single equivalent of a nickel(0)-phosphine complex.     

Nickel-catalyzed regioselective hydrocyanation of terminal alkynes by assistance of a tosyl group

Nickel-catalyzed regioselective hydrocyanation of terminal alkynes is described. A tosylamide functionality at the propargyl position was the most suitable group for controlling the regiochemistry for CCN bond formation as well as rate enhancement. A gram-scale synthesis was achieved by minimizing the catalyst loading to 2?mol%. The major HCN adduct could be transformed to the corresponding indoline through construction of a benzylic quaternary carbon under iron catalysis.     

Nickel-catalyzed addition of C-H bonds of terminal alkynes to 1,3-dienes and styrenes

The C-H bond of a terminal alkyne adds to a carbon-carbon double bond of 1,3-dienes, styrenes, and norbornene at room temperature in the presence of a nickel catalyst in regio- and stereoselective manners. Reaction of triisopropylsilylacetylene with 1-substituted 1,3-butadiene derivatives afforded hydroalkynylation products via introduction of a hydrogen atom and a triisopropylsilylethynyl group to 4- and 3-positions of the dienes, respectively. Likewise, 1-triisopropylsiloxy-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1-cyclohexen-1-yl-1,3-butadiene, and 1,3-cyclohexadiene underwent the hydroalkynylation reaction, giving the corresponding 1,4-enyne derivatives in good yields at room temperature. Reaction of p-substituted styrene with triisopropylsilylacetylene also proceeded in the presence of the nickel catalyst, giving the branched hydroalkynylation products in good yields. Norbornene gave a exo-addition product in good yield under the same reaction conditions.     

Nickel-catalyzed addition of benzenethiol to alkynes: Formation of carbon-sulfur and carbon-carbon bonds

Nickel-catalyzed addition of benzenethiol to alkynes leads to alkenyl and dienyl sulfides; the direction of the process can be controlled by varying the PhSH/alkyne ratio. An advanced procedure, which ensures higher yields of 2-phenylsulfanylalkenes, includes gradual addition of alkyne to the other reactants. The structures of conjugated dienyl sulfides formed in the reaction were determined by 2D NMR spectroscopy. Dedicated to Academician O. M. Nefedov on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2030–2034, November, 2006.     

Palladium-catalyzed three-component arylcyanation of internal alkynes with aryl bromides and K4[Fe(CN)6

The one-pot, palladium-catalyzed, three-component coupling of aryl bromides, internal alkynes, and environmentally friendly K4[Fe(CN)6] provides an efficient and direct method for the preparation of beta-arylalkenylnitriles.     

Nickel-catalyzed multicomponent connection of dimethylzinc, alkynes, 1,3-butadiene, aldehydes, and amines

A nickel(0) species catalyzes the five-component connection reaction of dimethylzinc, alkynes, 1,3-butadiene, aldehydes, and amines, furnishing either 1 or 2 selectively in good yields depending on the kinds of amines, aromatic or aliphatic amines, respectively.     

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and alkynes

The [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate (1a) and terminal alkynes (2) proceeded smoothly in the presence of 10 mol % "Ni(PPh3)2", which was prepared in situ from Ni(cod)2 and PPh3. The high reactivity of 1a, which was induced by the introduction of an electron-withdrawing group, is very important for the progress of this reaction. The cycloheptadiene derivatives were synthesized in highly selective manner in good yields.     

Nickel-catalyzed addition of dimethylzinc to aldehydes across alkynes and 1,3-butadiene: an efficient four-component connection reaction

In the presence of 10 mol % of Ni(acac)(2), four components comprising Me(2)Zn, alkynes, 1,3-butadiene, and carbonyl compounds combine in this order in 1:1:1:1 ratio to furnish (3E,6Z)-octadien-1-ols 1 in good yields. Similarly, the coupling reaction of Me(2)Zn, 1,omega-dienynes 5, and carbonyls furnishes 1-alkylidene-2-(4'-hydroxy-(1'E)-alkenyl)cyclopentanes and -cyclohexanes 6 and their oxygen and nitrogen heterocycle derivatives in good yield and an excellent level of 1,5-diastereoselectivity with respect to the cycloalkane methine carbon and the OH-bearing carbon of the C2 side chain. The reaction is completed in most cases within 1 h at room temperature under nitrogen, tolerates an ester, a hydroxy, an allyl and propargyl ethers, an allylamino, and a pyridyl functionalities, and accommodates a variety of aromatic and aliphatic alkynes and carbonyls (aldehydes and ketones).