Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of 2-Pyridyl Esters with Unreactivated Alkyl Chlorides: A Universal Synthesis of Aryl-Alkyl and Dialkyl Ketones via Dynamic Halide Exchange

A Ni-catalyzed reductive coupling of 2-pyridyl esters with unactivated primary and secondary alkyl chlorides provides direct access to aryl–alkyl and dialkyl ketones. High selectivity can be achieved by rate-matching via dynamic halide exchange.