The enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized chiral cyclopent-2-enones by the reaction of alkynyl malonate esters with arylboronic acids is described. These desymmetrizing arylative cyclizations are catalyzed by a chiral phosphinooxazoline/nickel complex, and cyclization is enabled by the reversible E/Z isomerization of alkenylnickel species. The general methodology is also applicable to the synthesis of 1,6-dihydropyridin-3(2H)-ones.

The synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles by the nickel-catalyzed reaction of N-tosyl alkynamides with arylboronic acids is reported.