Nickel Catalyzed Carbonylation/Carboxylation Sequence via Double CO2 Incorporation

A carbonylation-carboxylation synthetic sequence, via double CO₂ fixation, is described. The productive merger of a Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling manifold, with the use of AlCl₃, triggered a cascade reaction with the formation of three consecutive C-C bonds in a single operation. This strategy traces an unprecedented synthetic route to ketones under Lewis acid assisted carbon dioxide valorization. Computational insights revealed a unique double function of AlCl₃, and labeling (¹³CO₂) experiments validate the genuine incorporation of CO₂ in both functional groups.