Dehydrogenative [4+2] Cycloaddition of Formamides with Alkynes through Double C-H Activation

Formamides having 1-arylalkyl groups on nitrogen undergo an unprecedented dehydrogenative [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with alkynes via nickel/AlMe3 cooperative catalysis to give highly substituted dihydropyridone derivatives in good yields. Notably, the transformation proceeds through double functionalization of C(sp(2))-H and C(sp(3))-H bonds in the formamides.