Selective C-F bond activation of tetrafluorobenzenes by nickel(0) with a nitrogen donor analogous to N-heterocyclic carbenes.

N, not NHC: A neutral, basic, strong sigma-donor nitrogen ancillary ligand with properties analogous to those of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) was developed to aid in the oxidative additions of challenging substrates to late transition metals. Selective, room-temperature C-F bond activation was observed with hexa-, penta-, and all three isomers of tetrafluorobenzene using a nickel(0) source in the presence of this donor.