Nickel-catalyzed direct alkylation of heterocycles with α-bromo carbonyl compounds: C3-selective functionalization of 2-pyridones.

Nickel HAS it: A Ni(cod)2/dppp catalyst system promotes the direct alkylation of electron-rich heterocycles with α-bromo carbonyl compounds and involves an alkyl radical intermediate (see scheme; cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane). This homolytic radical aromatic substitution (HAS)-type reaction enables the C3-selective direct functionalization of 2-pyridones.