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We report that Ni(COD)(DQ) (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene, DQ=duroquinone), an air-stable 18-electron complex originally described by Schrauzer in 1962, is a competent precatalyst for a variety of nickel-catalyzed synthetic methods from the literature. Due to its apparent stability, use of Ni(COD)(DQ) as a precatalyst allows reactions to be conveniently performed without use of an inert-atmosphere glovebox, as demonstrated across several case studies., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Allylation and conjunctive cross-coupling represent two useful, yet largely distinct, reactivity paradigms in catalysis. The union of these two processes would offer exciting possibilities in organic synthesis but remains largely unknown. Herein, we report the use of allyl electrophiles in nickel-catalyzed conjunctive cross-coupling with a non-conjugated alkene and dimethylzinc. The transformation is enabled by weakly coordinating, monodentate aza-heterocycle directing groups that are useful building blocks in synthesis, including saccharin, pyridones, pyrazoles, and triazoles. The reaction occurs under mild conditions and is compatible with a wide range of allyl electrophiles. High chemoselectivity through substrate directivity is demonstrated by the facile reactivity of the β-γ alkene of the starting material, whereas the ϵ-ζ alkene of the product is preserved. The generality of this approach is further illustrated through the development of an analogous method with alkyne substrates. Mechanistic studies reveal the importance of the dissociation of the weakly coordinating directing group to allow the allyl moiety to bind and facilitate C(sp 3 )-C(sp 3 ) reductive elimination., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A nickel-catalyzed conjunctive cross-coupling of alkenyl carboxylic acids, aryl iodides, and aryl/alkenyl boronic esters is reported. The reaction delivers the desired 1,2-diarylated and 1,2-arylalkenylated products with excellent regiocontrol. To demonstrate the synthetic utility of the method, a representative product is prepared on gram scale and then diversified to eight 1,2,3-trifunctionalized building blocks using two-electron and one-electron logic. Using this method, three routes toward bioactive molecules are improved in terms of yield and/or step count. This method represents the first example of catalytic 1,2-diarylation of an alkene directed by a native carboxylate group., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We report the development of a Pd-catalyzed process for the cross coupling of unactivated primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylcarbastannatrane nucleophiles with acyl electrophiles. Reactions involving optically active alkylcarbastannatranes occur with exceptional stereofidelity and with net retention of absolute configuration. Because the stereochemistry of the resulting products is entirely reagent-controlled, this process may be viewed as a general, alternative approach to the preparation of products typically accessed via asymmetric enolate methodologies. Additionally, we report a new method for the preparation of optically active alkylcarbastannatranes, which should facilitate their future use in stereospecific reactions., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)