Stereoselective nickel-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of ene-allenes.

A stereoselective nickel-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition of ene-allenes is reported. This transformation encompasses a broad range of ene-allene substrates, thus providing efficient access to fused cyclobutanes from easily accessed π-components. A simple and inexpensive first-row catalytic system comprised of [Ni(cod)2 ] and dppf was used in this process, thus constituting an attractive approach to synthetically challenging cyclobutane frameworks under mild reaction conditions.