We disclose a transmetalation-initiated Ni­(I)-catalyzed regioselective β,δ-vinylarylation of γ,δ-alkenyl α-cyanocarboxylic esters with vinyl triflates and arylzinc reagents. This reaction proceeds via contraction of six-membered nickellacycles to five-membered nickellacycles to form carbon–carbon bonds at the nonclassical homovicinal sites, and it provides expeditious access to a wide range of complex aliphatic α-cyanoesters, α-cyanocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acid monoamides, monocarboxylic acids, nitriles, and spirolactones. Control, deuterium labeling, and crossover experiments indicate that (i) the nickellacycle contraction occurs by β-H elimination, followed by hydronickellation on transiently formed alkenes, and (ii) the Ni species are stabilized as Ni-enolates.

We disclose a nickel‐catalyzed reaction, which enabled us to difunctionalize unactivated γ,δ‐alkenes in ketones with alkenyl triflates and arylboronic esters. The reaction was made feasible by the use of 5‐chloro‐8‐hydroxyquinoline as a ligand along with NiBr2⋅DME as a catalyst and LiOtBu as base. The reaction proceeded with a wide range of cyclic, acyclic, endocyclic and exocyclic alkenyl ketones, and electron‐rich and electron‐deficient arylboronate esters. The reaction also worked with both cyclic and acyclic alkenyl triflates. Control experiments indicate that carbonyl coordination is required for the reaction to proceed.

This review discusses the advances in synthesis of contorted nanographenes via alkyne benzannulation reactions.

We disclose a Ni-catalyzed vicinal alkylarylation of unactivated alkenes in γ,δ-alkenylketimines with aryl halides and alkylzinc reagents. The reaction produces γ-C­(sp3)-branched δ-arylketones with the construction of two C­(sp3)–C­(sp3) and C­(sp3)–C­(sp2) bonds. Electron-deficient alkenes play crucial dual roles as ligands to stabilize reaction intermediates and to increase catalytic rates for the formation of C­(sp3)–C­(sp3) bonds. This alkene alkylarylation reaction is also effective for secondary alkylzinc reagents and internal alkenes and proceeds with a complete regio- and stereocontrol, affording products with up to three contiguous all-carbon all-cis secondary stereocenters.