Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Aryl Fluorides and Organozinc Reagents

Ni(PCy3)2Cl2 was demonstrated to effectively catalyze cross-coupling of aryl fluorides and organozinc reagents. Both electron-poor and -rich aryl fluorides can react effectively with nucleophiles including aryl-, methyl-, and benzylzinc chlorides. A wide range of substituents and functional groups are tolerated. In the presence of a directing group, PhC(O), the reaction is selective for cleavage of the C–F bond ortho to the carbonyl substituent in a difluoroarene.