<scp>Nickel‐Catalyzed</scp>Dicarbofunctionalization of Alkenes^†

Abstract

As a straightforward strategy for rapidly increasing molecular complexity, dicarbofunctionalization of alkenes has attracted substantial interests of organic synthesis, medicine chemistry, and materials science. Nickel‐catalyzed cascade dicarbofunctionalizations have been flourished in this area recently, and nickel‐mediated radical pathways particularly offer new opportunities in conjunctive cross‐couplings with alkyl coupling partners. Herein, we give a comprehensive review of nickel‐catalyzed dicarbofunctionalization of alkenes through a historical perspective, including intermolecular three‐component reactions and intramolecular cascade reactions. Among the pathways discussed in this review, the carbometallation/cross‐coupling process and the radical addition/cross‐coupling process are the two major pathways for the nickel‐catalyzed dicarbofunctionalization of alkenes. The oxidative cyclization and 1,2‐metallate shift processes are also selectively discussed. These methods overcome the limitations associated with the reactions using noble metals in the field, providing an efficient and straightforward access to structurally diversified molecules.