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 ZnCl2 cocatalyst as the key step of the catalytic cycle.