Synthesis of biaryls via nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of arylboronic acids and aryl mesylates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(98)00809-6

The cross-coupling reaction of arylboronic acids (1.3 equivs) with aryl methanesulfonates was carried out in the presence of a nickel(0) catalyst (3 mol%) and K₃PO₄·nH₂O (3 equivs). The use of toluene as the solvent and the nickel(0)-dppf catalyst prepared from NiCl₂(dppf) plus dppf with BuLi were recognized to be the most efficient to achieve both high yields and high selectivity. The reaction can be applied to various electron-deficient and - rich aryl methanesulfonates to give high yields.