Mechanism and selectivity of nickel-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β-unsaturated ketones: A computational study

Abstract Density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate the nickel-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β-unsaturated ketones. The computations show that the overall catalytic cycle consists of four major steps, including: (1) C-C oxidative addition of the cyclopropenone to afford the four-membered nickelacycle, (2) isomerization, (3) migratory insertion via a 4,1-insertion fashion, and (4) C-C reductive elimination to deliver the [3 + 2] cycloaddition product. The enantioselectivity is mainly attributed to the π-π interaction between the diphenylcyclopropenone moiety and the phenyl substituent of the oxazoline ring of the ligand. The chemoselectivity of the C = O versus C = C insertion was rationalized in terms of the steric effect.