Bifurcated Nickel-Catalyzed Functionalizations: Heteroarene C-H Activation with Allenes.

A unified strategy for nickel(0)-catalyzed C-H allylations, alkenylations, and dienylations has been realized through versatile hydroarylations of allenes with ample scope. Thus, an inexpensive nickel catalyst modified with a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand enabled the direct transformation of C-H bonds of biologically relevant imidazole and purine derivatives with full control of regio- and chemoselectivity.