Nickel-catalyzed synthesis of acrylamides from alpha-olefins and isocyanates.

[reaction: see text] The nickel(0)-catalyzed coupling of alpha-olefins and isocyanates proceeds in the presence of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand IPr to provide alpha,beta-unsaturated amides. Carbon-carbon bond formation occurs preferentially at the 2-position of the olefin. The N-tert-butyl amide products can be converted to the corresponding primary amides under acidic conditions.