A Ni-catalyzed enantioselective reductive diarylation of activated alkenes by domino cyclizative/cross-coupling of two aryl bromides is developed. This reaction proceeds under very mild conditions and shows broad substrate scope, without requiring the use of preformed organometallic reagents. Moreover, this approach provides direct access to various bis-heterocycles bearing all-carbon quaternary centers in synthetically useful yields (up to 81%) with excellent enantioselectivity (>30 examples, 90–99% ee).

The restricted availability, expense and toxicity of precious metal catalysts such as rhodium and palladium challenge the sustainability of synthetic chemistry. As such, nickel catalysts have garnered increasing attention as replacements for enyne cyclization reactions. On the other hand, bridged tricyclo[5.2.1.0 1,5 ]decanes are found as core structures in many biologically active natural products; however, the synthesis of such frameworks with high functionalities from readily available precursors remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a nickel-catalyzed asymmetric domino cyclization reaction of enynones, providing rapid and modular synthesis of bridged tricyclo[5.2.1.0 1,5 ]decane skeletons with three quaternary stereocenters in good yields and remarkable high levels of regio-and enantioselectivities (92-99% ee).

Transition-metal-catalytic domino reactions represent important advances in synthetic organic chemistry. Their development benefits synthesis by providing highly efficient and step-economical methods to complex molecules with impressive selectivity. Herein, a Ni-catalyzed domino reductive cyclization of acrylamides with alkynyl bromides is reported, enabling rapid assembly of a range of substituted 2,3-fused cyclopentannulated indolines. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that tricyclic indolines are afforded through a highly regioselective migratory insertion of 1,3-diynes, which are formed from the homocoupling of alkynyl bromides, into the in situ generated σ-alkyl-Ni­(II) species, followed by nucleophilic addition of the resulting alkenyl nickel to unactivated amides. Most importantly, a highly regio- and enantioselective reductive cyclization of acrylamides and internal alkynes has also been developed. This transformation takes place under mild conditions with high efficiency, providing a rapid access to structurally diverse cyclopentannulated indolines in synthetically useful yields with high regioselectivity (>20/1) and enantioselectivity (27 examples, 82–96% ee).

Spirocycles play an important role in drug discovery and development owing to their inherent three-dimensionality and structural novelty. Despite the recent significant progress, the straightforward catalytic asymmetric assembly of spirocyclic scaffolds with multiple stereocenters from readily available starting materials remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop an unprecedented nickel-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of enantioenriched spiroindanones from easily available 1,6-enynes and oformylarylboronic acids. The reaction proceeds smoothly under redox-neutral conditions, without the need for an additional hydrogen donor, and features a broad substrate scope and excellent regio-, enantio-, and diastereoselectivity.

A Ni-catalyzed enantioselective reductive aryl-alkenylation of alkenes for the synthesis of functionalized oxindoles is developed. With this method, a concise formal synthesis of (+)-physovenine and (+)-physostigmine has been completed.