Nickel-catalyzed hydroalkylation of 1,3-dienes with malonates using a homoallyl carbonate as the 1,3-diene and hydride source

Abstract The use of a malonate nucleophile in the transition metal-catalyzed hydroalkylation of 1,3-dienes remains immature. Herein, we report the nickel-catalyzed hydroalkylation of 1,3-dienes with malonates using a homoallyl carbonate as the 1,3-diene and hydride source. A broad range of homoally carbonates and malonate derivatives were well tolerated under a Ni/DPEphos catalyst system, providing the corresponding 1,2-hydroalkylation products in 40–94% yields with excellent regioselectivity (32 examples). We also suggested the possible reaction mechanism for the nickel-catalyzed hydroalkylation of in situ generated 1,3-dienes with malonates.