[Ni(PnBu3)2Cl2] as an economical precatalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction of aryl sulfonate esters and halides

Abstract

The air stable precatalyst [Ni(PnBu₃)₂Cl₂] was successfully demonstrated to be highly active in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of aryl tosylates, mesylates and chlorides without the use of an external reducing agent. Biaryl products were typically formed in high yield without the requirement of large excesses of phenyl boronic acid derivatives or base. This precatalyst can be readily prepared from inexpensive starting materials representing a distinct economic advantage over previously reported precatalysts. We further report our computational studies indicating potential oxidative addition mechanisms with this precatalyst on aryl sulfonate electrophiles.