Nickel-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Alkylidenation of Phthalimides with Trimethylsilyl-Substituted Alkynes

We have developed a nickel-catalyzed transformation, in which phthalimides react with trimethylsilyl-substituted alkynes in the presence of Ni(0)/PMe3/MAD catalyst to provide isoindolinones. The reaction process displays an unusual mechanistic feature-decarbonylation and alkylidenation. The use of both trimethylsilyl-substiuted alkynes and MAD was found to be essential for the transformation with high selectivities.