One-pot reactions of bicyclic zinc enolate generated from Ni-catalyzed reductive cyclization to furnish octahydro-4,7-ethanobenzofuran-9-one derivatives

The one-pot reactions of catalytically generated bicyclic zinc enolate with various electrophiles are reported. The zinc enolate as a key intermediate is efficiently delivered from Ni-catalyzed reductive cyclization of alkynyl cyclohexadienone. Employing aldehydes, imine, nitroalkene, and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds as electrophiles, this new class of one-pot reactions gave multi-functionalized cis-hydrobenzofurans and octahydro-4,7-ethanobenzofuran-9-one derivatives in moderate to good yields.