Ni-Catalyzed Reductive C-O Bond Arylation of Oxalates Derived from α-Hydroxy Esters with Aryl Halides.

A Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds modified with oxalyl groups and aryl halides has been developed that furnishes α-aryl esters under mild conditions and tolerates a variety of functionalized aryl halides bearing electron-withdrawing and -donating groups. This work highlights C-O bond fragmentation on secondary alkyl carbon centers that generates α-carbonyl radicals.