Diphosphine Ligand-Enabled Nickel-Catalyzed Chelate-Assisted Inner-Selective Migratory Hydroarylation of Alkenes.

The precise control of the regioselectivity in the transition metal-catalyzed migratory hydrofunctionalization of alkenes remains a big challenge. With a transient ketimine directing group, the nickel-catalyzed migratory β-selective hydroarylation and hydroalkenylation of alkenyl ketones has been realized with aryl boronic acids using alkyl halide as the mild hydride source for the first time. The key to this success is the use of a diphosphine ligand, which is capable of the generation of a Ni(II)-H species in the presence of alkyl bromide, and enabling the efficient migratory insertion of alkene into Ni(II)-H species and the sequent rapid chain walking process.

SPSiPs, a Class of Diphosphine Ligands Based on SPSiOL with a Large Dihedral Angle.

The development and the synthetic applications of a novel class of diphosphine ligands (SPSiPs) based on chiral spirosilabiindane diol (SPSiOL) are presented. Starting from SPSiOL, the diphosphine ligands could be readily prepared in three steps with high efficiency. This novel class of diphosphine ligands features rigid configuration, a large dihedral angle, a large P-M-P angle, and a long P-P distance.