In the presence of diethylzinc as a stoichiometric reductant, Ni(acac)(2) functions as an efficient. precatalyst for the reductive aldol cyclization of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds tethered to a ketone electrophile through an amide or an ester linkage. The reactions are tolerant of a wide range of substitution at both alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl and ketone components and proceed smoothly to furnish beta-hydroxylactams and beta-hydroxylactones with generally high diastereoselectivities. A series of experiments, including deuterium-labeling studies, was carried out in an attempt to gain some insight into the possible reaction mechanisms that might be operative.