Ni(COD)2/PCy3 catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl and heteroaryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl and heteroaryl mesylates and sulfamates in THF at room temperature.

Reaction conditions for the Ni(COD)(2)/PCy(3) catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl mesylates were developed. By using optimized reaction conditions, Ni(COD)(2)/PCy(3) was shown to be a versatile catalyst for the cross-coupling of a diversity of aryl neopentylglycolboronates with aryl and heteroaryl mesylates and sulfamates containing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents in their para, ortho, and meta positions in THF at room temperature. This Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl neopentylglycolboronates is also effective for the synthesis of heterobiaryls and biaryls containing electrophilic functionalities sensitive to organolithium and organomagnesium derivatives. In combination with the recently developed Ni-catalyzed neopentylglycolborylation, all Ni-catalyzed routes to functional biaryls and heterobiaryls are now easily accessible.