2-Acylpyridines were prepared by iridium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with acyl cyanides. [Ir(cod)Cl]2/rac-BINAP or F-DPPE is an efficient catalyst for this reaction. The scope and limitations of this reaction have been disclosed.
Further investigations on our recently discovered goldcatalysed cyclisation reaction of 1,6-diynes are reported. By varying the steric and electronic nature of the alkyne substituents, the potentials and limitations of the new reaction have been identified.