Synthesis of biaryls via nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of arylboronic acids and aryl mesylates

The cross-coupling reaction of arylboronic acids (1.3 equivs) with aryl methane-sulfonates was carried out in the presence of a nickel(0) catalyst (3 mol%) and K3PO4. nH(2)O (3 equivs). The use of toluene or the solvent and the nickel(0)-dppf catalyst prepared fram NiCl2(dppf) plus dppf with BuLi were recognized to be the most efficient to achieve both high yields and high selectivity. The reaction can be applied to various electron-deficient and -rich aryl methanesulfonates to give high yields. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.