Regioselective Synthesis of γ‐Amino Esters, Nitriles, Sulfones, and Pyrrolidinones by Nickel‐Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Aldimines and Activated Alkenes

A couple of alternatives : An efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of γ‐amino derivatives and pyrrolidinones from readily available starting materials by using a nickel–phenanthroline complex (see scheme). The reaction proceeds by the formation of a CC bond at the β‐carbon atom, instead of the more usual α‐carbon atom, of a conjugated alkene via an azanickelacycle intermediate.