Ni-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Conjugate Additions of Grignard and Organozincate Reagents to Substituted 4-Vinylpyridines. General Synthesis of Phosphodiesterase IV Inhibitors.

Abstract Alkyl, aryl, and vinyl Grignard reagents were added to olefin II under Ni(acac) 2 or Cl 2 Ni(PPh 3 ) 2 catalysis to give products with the general formula I in 74–95% yield. Organozincates gave similar results with Ni(acac) 2 as the catalyst.