Nickel-catalyzed regioselective hydroalkynylation of styrenes: improved catalyst system, reaction scope, and mechanism.

Addition of the sp-C-H bond of triisopropylsilylacetylene to the carbon-carbon double bonds of styrenes bearing functional groups proceeded efficiently at room temperature in the presence of 3 mol % of Ni(cod)(2) with a PMePh(2) ligand. Use of 2-deuteriotriisopropylsilylacetylene in the hydroalkynylation of styrenes resulted in regioselective incorporation of deuterium into the beta-positions of recovered styrenes, along with its regioselective introduction into the product's methyl group.