Benchtop nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of aldehydes with alkynes and ynamides.

We demonstrate the potential of Ni(COD)(DQ), a bench-stable Ni complex, as a catalyst for the reductive coupling of aldehydes with alkynes and ynamides, providing silylated allyl alcohols with excellent yields and regioselectivities. Mass spectrometric identification of the intermediates and DFT studies supported the proposed mechanism.

Organophosphorus-Catalyzed Borylative Ring-Opening of Vinylcyclopropanes: A Stereoselective Route to δ-Valerolactones.

We report an operationally simple route to δ-valerolactones through an organophosphorus-catalyzed borylative ring-opening/allylation of vinylcyclopropanes providing δ-hydroxy esters stereoselectively. The δ-hydroxy esters were lactonized to obtain densely substituted δ-valerolactones. The present methodology exhibited enhanced functional group tolerance compared to the existing metal-mediated methods.