Regioselective cycloaddition of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates with 3-azetidinones and 3-oxetanone by nickel-catalysed C-C bond activation

In the presence of a nickel catalyst, the intermolecular (4+2) cycloaddition of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates with 3-azetidinones and 3-oxetanone leads to the formation of borylated dihydropyridinones and dihydropyranones without unwanted carbon-boron bond cleavage. The regioselectivity is influenced only by the trifluoroborate group, and only one regioisomer is obtained, whether the other alkyne substituent is an alkyl, vinyl, or (hetero)aryl group.