Ligand-Enabled Ni–Al Bimetallic Catalysis for Nonchelated Dual C–H Annulation of Arylformamides and Alkynes

A bifunctional secondary phosphine oxide (SPO) ligand-controlled method was developed for Ni–Al-catalyzed nonchelated dual C–H annulation of arylformamides with alkynes, providing a series of substituted amide-containing heterocycles in ≤97% yield. The SPO-bound bimetallic catalysis proved to be critical to the reaction efficiency.