Nickel-catalyzed decarbonylative addition of anhydrides to alkynes.

An intermolecular nickel-catalyzed addition reaction has been developed where phthalic anhydrides react with alkynes to afford substituted isocoumarins. A mechanistic rationale is proposed, implying reductive elimination of Ni(0) promoted by ZnCl(2) cocatalyst as the key step of the catalytic cycle.