Abstract
The first synthesis of a nine-membered ring by means of an intramolecular Ni(II)/Cr(II)-mediated coupling reaction between an iodoacetylene and an aldehyde is reported. The yield of the reaction is strongly dependent on the substrate concentration, but is independent of both the NiCl2 and CrCl2 concentration at high dilution. The application of this methodology to the synthesis of neocarzinostatin chromophore and other natural products is discussed.