Nickel-Catalyzed, Carbonyl-Ene-Type Reactions: Selective for α Olefins and More Efficient with Electron-Rich Aldehydes

Publication
Journal of the American Chemical Society 128 (16), 5362-5363, DOI: 10.1021/ja061471+

Described are several classes of unusual or unprecedented carbonyl-ene-type reactions, including those between alpha olefins and aromatic aldehydes. Catalyzed by nickel, these processes complement existing Lewis acid-catalyzed methods in several respects. Not only are monosubstituted alkenes, aromatic aldehydes, and tert-alkyl aldehydes effective substrates, but monosubstituted olefins also react faster than those that are more substituted, and large or electron-rich aldehydes are more effective than small or electron-poor ones. Conceptually, in the presence of a nickel−phosphine catalyst, the combination of off-the-shelf alkenes, silyl triflates, and triethylamine functions as a replacement for an allylmetal reagent.

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