Nickel-catalysed conjugate addition of trimethylaluminium to cyclopropyl ketones

Abstract

Nickel-catalysed addition of trimethylaluminium to cyclopropyl ketones (RCOC₃H₅) affords 1-substituted pentan-1-ones (RCOC₄H₉; R = C₆H₄, 4- ClC₆H₄, 4-MeOC₆H₄, 3,4-Me₂C₆H₃, c. 50% yield; R = 4-BrC₆H₄, 10%; and R = cyclopropyl, 30%).