Nickel-mediated decarbonylative cross-coupling of phthalimides with in situ generated diorganozinc reagents.

The nickel-mediated cross-coupling of phthalimides with diorganozinc reagents proceeds via a decarbonylative process to produce ortho-substituted benzamides in high yields. In addition to tolerating diverse phthalimide functionality, including alkyl, aryl, and heteroatom containing substituents, this methodology proceeds smoothly with diorganozinc reagents prepared from aryl bromides and utilized without purification.