Triphenylphosphine as a Ligand for Room-Temperature Ni(0)-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Aryl Chlorides with Arylboronic Acids

Room-temperature Ni(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of deactivated aryl chlorides with arylboronic acids with inexpensive triphenylphosphine (PPh3) as a supporting ligand have been accomplished in good to excellent yields. Air-stable Ni(PPh3)2Cl2 has also been established as catalyst precursor, and highly active nickel catalysts were obtained when the reduction of Ni(PPh3)2Cl2 with n-BuLi was carried out in the presence of an aryl chloride.