Nickel(ii)-catalyzed C–C, N–C cascade coupling of ketonitriles into substituted pyrroles and pyridines

Abstract

We have demonstrated the first ever example of nickel complexes as effective catalysts to promote the C–C, N–C cascade coupling of ketonitriles with arylboronic acids, affording potentially biologically active 3-carboxylate-2,5-diaryl-pyrroles as well as 2,5-diarylpyrroles and 2,6-diarylpyridines. This protocol features a broad scope of substrates and excellent functional group tolerance, thus representing a highly versatile and atom-economical alternative to novel methods for the synthesis of various unsymmetrical diarylpyrroles and diarylpyridines under manageable conditions.