Heteroatom-directed alkylcyanation of alkynes.

Alkanenitriles having a heteroatom such as nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur at the gamma-position are found to add across alkynes stereo- and regioselectively by nickel/Lewis acid catalysis to give highly substituted acrylonitriles. The heteroatom functionalities likely coordinate to the nickel center to make oxidative addition of the C-CN bonds of the alkyl cyanides kinetically favorable, forming a five-membered nickelacycle intermediate and, thus, preventing beta-hydride elimination to allow the alkylcyanation reaction.