Nickel-Catalyzed Decyanative Reductive Coupling of Benzyl Nitriles with Aryl Chlorides toward the Synthesis of Diarylmethanes

Herein, nickel-catalyzed decyanative reductive cross-coupling of benzyl nitriles with aryl chlorides has been developed. The current protocol features a wide scope, good functional group compatibility, and excellent chemoselectivity, thus providing a powerful alternative to the known methods for the synthesis of diarylmethanes. Mechanistic studies demonstrate the formation of benzyl-nickel species as the key intermediate in the catalytic cycle.