Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones through nickel-catalysed aldehyde-free hydroacylation of alkynes

Transition metal-catalysed hydroacylation of alkynes using aldehydes is an atom-economical route to access α,β-unsaturated ketones, but typically requires aldehydes that bear chelating moieties. Here, the authors report a nickel-catalysed anti-Markovnikov selective coupling process to afford non-tethered E-enones from terminal alkynes and S-2-pyridyl thioesters.