Nickel-Catalyzed Suzuki Reaction of Unactivated Alkyl Halides

Significance

This is a further significant development in the field of the cross-coupling reaction of alkyl electrophiles. Inexpensive amino alcohols were found to serve as efficient catalysts for the coupling of primary and secondary alkyl chlorides with arylboronic acids. The same catalyst, trans-2-aminocyclohexanol, can be successfully applied for the Suzuki coupling of any primary and secondary alkyl halide. The formation of a radical intermediate during the oxidative addition of nickel has been proved.