Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Electrophile Coupling Reactions of Alcohols and Derivatives

Nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of halide coupling partners has emerged as a powerful tool for constructing C–C bonds under mild conditions. However, the limited natural abundance of halides means that a significant portion must be synthetically prepared, which can pose sustainability challenges. In this context, aryl and alkyl alcohols represent highly promising alternative coupling partners due to their abundance and versatility. Despite their potential, the application of alcohols in cross-electrophile coupling reactions is mostly explored for their coupling with aryl or alky halide derivatives. The cross-coupling reactions, in which both coupling partners are alcohols or derivatives, remained underexplored until recent advancements. This short review aims to highlight the current progress in the nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of alcohols and their derivatives, as well as to discuss future opportunities in this burgeoning field.