CO2-promoted and Ni-catalyzed direct hydroallylation
of terminal alkynes with allylic alcohols has been achieved. Various
1,4-dienes could be synthesized in good yield with excellent Markovnikov
selectivity for alkyl- and aryl-substituted terminal alkynes under
mild reaction conditions. A gram-scale reaction gives considerable
yield. Preliminary mechanistic studies support the reaction pathway
through sequential carboxylation/allylnickelation/lithium bicarbonate
nickelation/transmetalation in the hydroallylation of alkynes with
allylic alcohols in the presence of CO2