Many classes of standard organic transformations involve the coupling or cycloaddition of two different π -components to assemble a more functionalized product. Many such processes are amenable to the union of two complex fragments, thus allowing convergent approaches to complex organic molecules. Diels -Alder cycloadditions, Prins addition reactions, and ene reactions are examples of broadly useful processes that involve the union of two π -components in a selective manner. As a complement to these classical transformations, the reductive coupling of two π -components provides an alternative strategy for assembly of complex fragments from the same types of starting materials [1 -8] . Whereas the starting components resemble those required for the types of standard organic transformations noted above, the products obtained differ structurally and are obtained in a reduced oxidation state based on the action of the reducing agent employed.A number of transition metal catalyst/reducing agent combinations are known to promote various reductive coupling processes. In addition to the nickelcatalyzed variants that are the subject of this chapter, important advances have been made with titanium -[9 -13] , iridium - [14] , and rhodium -catalyzed variants [15] . Many reducing agents have been employed, and the most widely used classes include silanes, organozincs, organoboranes, molecular hydrogen, and alcohols. The specifi c focus of this chapter will be the development of nickel -catalyzed reductive couplings and cyclizations between a polar π -component and a non -polar π -component. This strategy allows the two π -components to be differentiated in catalytic reactions, and thus avoids homocoupling processes that are often problematic in transformations of this type. The use of either aldehydes or α , β -unsaturated carbonyls as the polar component, and alkynes as the non -polar component has been a primary focus of our laboratories and will be the subject of this chapter. Extensive related developments involving dienes as the non -polar component reported by the laboratories of Mori [16] , Sato [17] , and Tamaru [18] have been reviewed elsewhere [3] and will not be extensively discussed in this 8 Catalysis Without Precious Metals. Edited by R. Morris Bullock