By using a nickel complex with an N-phosphinomethyl-N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (NHC-P), the reducing ability and thermal stability of the complex were improved considerably compared to the previously reported bipyridine and bisphosphine complexes, and acrylate salt was prepared from ethylene and CO with the highest TON ever reported for nickel systems even without using metallic zinc. Oxidative cyclization of ethylene and CO on the NHC-P nickel complex was found to proceed very rapidly compared to previous systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrønsted acid-promoted intramolecular hydroarylation of alkynylbenzenes carrying an arylalkyl group at the ortho-position leads to alkylidenedibenzo[a,d]cycloheptenes, -octenes and -nonenes in up to quantitative yield with complete regioselectivity. The scope and limitation of this reaction and application to the synthesis of tricyclic antidepressants are described.
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