Nickel-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Alkylidenation of Phthalimides with Trimethylsilyl-Substituted Alkynes

We
have developed a nickel-catalyzed transformation, in which phthalimides
react with trimethylsilyl-substituted alkynes in the presence of Ni(0)/PMe3/MAD catalyst to provide isoindolinones. The reaction process
displays an unusual mechanistic featuredecarbonylation and
alkylidenation. The use of both trimethylsilyl-substiuted alkynes
and MAD was found to be essential for the transformation with high
selectivities.