Reactivity of mixed organozinc and mixed organocopper reagents: 6. Nickel-catalyzed coupling of methylarylzincs with primary alkyl halides; an atom-economic aryl-alkyl coupling

A nickel-catalyzed process for the cross-coupling of mixed arylzincs and primary alkyl halides has been developed. The reaction of a methylarylzinc with a primary alkyl halide in THF in the presence of NiCl2/PPh3 takes place with selective aryl transfer at room temperature in moderate yields. This protocol provides an atom-economic alternative to aryl-primary alkyl coupling using diarylzincs.