Ligand-Controlled Regiodivergent Nickel-Catalyzed Hydrocyanation of Silyl-Substituted 1,3-Diynes

A regiodivergent nickel-catalyzed hydrocyanation of 1-aryl-4-silyl-1,3-diynes is reported. When appropriate bisphosphine and phosphine-phosphite ligands are applied, the same starting materials can be converted into two different enynyl nitriles with good yields and high regioselectivities. The DFT calculations unveiled that the structural features of different ligands bring divergent alkyne insertion modes, which in turn lead to different regioselectivities. Moreover, the synthetic value of the cyano-containing 1,3-enynes has been demonstrated with several downstream transformations.

Automated summary

A regiodivergent nickel-catalyzed hydrocyanation of 1-aryl-4-silyl-1,3-diynes is reported, where appropriate ligands result in high yields and regioselectivities of two different enynyl nitriles. DFT calculations show that different ligands lead to diverse alkyne insertion modes, impacting the regioselectivity. The synthetic value of cyano-containing 1,3-enynes is demonstrated through downstream transformations.