A nickel-catalyzed tetradehydro-Diels–Alder reaction
of
(E)-3-ene-1,8-diynes for the preparation of isoindolines,
dihydroisobenzofurans, and tetrahydroisoquinolines has been developed.
A series of air-stable nickel catalysts were used in this study, including
the novel nickel(0)–phosphite catalysts, Ni[P(O-3,5-Me-Ph)3]4, Ni[P(O-1-naphthyl)3]4, and Ni[P(O-2-naphthyl)3]4. To help understand
the type of intermediate in the initial cycloisomerization process,
the trapping of nickellacycle intermediates with pinacolborane to
yield vinyl boronates is also discussed.