Nickel‐Catalysed Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Benzyl Bromides and Sulfonium Salts towards the Synthesis of Dihydrostilbenes

Abstract A nickel‐catalysed reductive cross‐coupling reaction between benzyl sulfonium salts and benzyl bromides is reported. Simple, stable and readily available sulfonium salts have shown their ability as leaving groups in cross‐electrophile coupling, allowing the formation of challenging sp 3 –sp 3 carbon‐carbon bonds, towards the synthesis of interesting dihydrostilbene derivatives. In addition, benzyl tosyl derivatives have been demonstrated to be suitable substrates for reductive cross‐coupling by in‐situ formation of the corresponding sulfonium salt.