Regioselective Formal Hydroamidation of Alkynes: Synthesis of α-Substituted Acrylamides

The formal hydroamidation of alkyne is a powerful synthetic method that enables the formation of various α,β-unsaturated amides. In this article, the efficient formal hydroamidation of terminal and internal alkynes is described, which constitutes the Ni-catalyzed α-selective hydroalumination of alkynes and subsequent treatment with isocyanates. This method is gram-scalable and the synthetic utility is highlighted by the synthesis of a β-lactam from α-phenyl acrylamide.