A nickel-catalyzed route to pyridines.

A mild and general route for preparing pyridines from nitriles and diynes is described. Ni/imidazolyidene complexes were used to mediate cyclization alkynes and both aryl and alkyl nitriles at ambient temperature. In addition, the efficacy of this protocol allows for the preparation of a fused seven-membered pyridone and for intermolecular cyclizations. When an asymmetrical diyne was employed, cyclization afforded a single pyridine regioisomer.