Herein, we reported a Ni-catalyzed
carbonylation of cyclopropanol
with benzyl bromide to afford multisubstituted cyclopentenone under
1 atm of CO. The reaction proceeds through cascade carbonylation of
benzyl bromides, followed by generation of nickel homoenolate from
cyclopropanols via β-C elimination to afford 1,4-diketones,
which undergoes intramolecular Aldol condensation to furnish highly
substituted cyclopentenone derivatives in moderate to good yields.
The reaction exhibits high functional group tolerance with broad substrate
scope.