Copper-assisted nickel catalyzed ligand-free C(sp2)-O cross-coupling of vinyl halides and phenols.

A convenient and efficient protocol has been achieved for the cross-coupling of phenols and vinyl halides by a unique Ni/Cu catalytic system for the first time, where the reaction is catalyzed by Ni and Cu is involved in the transmetalation process. This procedure provides an easy access to a library of aryl-vinyl and aryl-styrenyl ethers.