Ni-Catalyzed Cyclization of Enynes and Alkynylboronates: Atom-Economical Synthesis of Boryl-1,4-dienes

We report a novel atom-economical Ni-catalyzed cyclization reaction of enynes with alkynylboronates. The reaction employs a non-expensive Ni salt, a phosphine-based ligand and easy-handling alkynylboronates as boron-carbon source. The reaction provides complex fused-bicyclic compounds containing borylated 1,4-cyclohexadienes in high yields in short reaction times, involving the formation of two C-C bonds in one step. A reasonable reaction mechanism is proposed based on mechanistic experimental results.