Alkynylcyanation of alkynes and dienes catalyzed by nickel

Alkynyl cyanides are found to add across alkynes and 1,2-dienes in the presence of a catalyst prepared in situ from Ni(cod)₂, xantphos, and BPh₃. A range of functionalized conjugated cis-enynes are obtained with high regioselectivity. The addition reaction across norbornadiene proceeds in the absence of BPh₃ to give exo-cis adduct exclusively. A stoichiometric reaction of an alkynyl cyanide, Ni(cod)₂, xantphos, and BPh₃ gives trans-(xantphos)Ni(CNBPh₃)(CCSiMe₂t-Bu), which is suggested to be a plausible reaction intermediate of the alkynylcyanation reaction.