Iridium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with nitriles.

[Ir(cod)Cl](2)/DPPF or BINAP efficiently catalyzed the cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with nitriles to give pyridines. The reaction can accommodate a very wide range of nitriles. Both aliphatic and aromatic nitriles smoothly reacted with α,ω-diynes to give pyridines.