Nickel-Catalyzed Direct Electrochemical Cross-Coupling between Aryl Halides and Activated Alkyl Halides.

The electrochemical reduction of a mixture of aryl halides and activated alkyl halides in DMF in the presence of catalytic amount of NiBr(2)bipy leads to cross-coupling products in good to high yields. The method applies to the synthesis of alpha-aryl ketones, alpha-aryl esters, and allylated compounds from readily available organic halides. Optimization of the process has been obtained by slowly adding the most reactive organic halide (usually the activated alkyl halide) during the electrolysis which is best conducted at 70 degrees C when aryl bromides are involved.