Anti Carbocyanative Cyclization of Enynes under Nickel Catalysis

Anti carbocyanative cyclization using 1,6-enynes under nickel catalysis is described. This reaction is triggered by hydronickelation to alkenes followed by carbometalation. Steric repulsion caused by the bulky substituents on alkynes promotes isomerization of the carbon–carbon double bond geometry in an organonickel intermediate to introduce both alkyl and cyano groups in an anti fashion.