[NiCl 2 (dppp)]‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Halides with Dialkyl Phosphite, Diphenylphosphine Oxide, and Diphenylphosphine

We present a general approach to C-P bond formation through the cross-coupling of aryl halides with a dialkyl phosphite, diphenylphosphine oxide, and diphenylphosphane by using [NiCl(2) (dppp)] as catalyst (dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane). This catalyst system displays a broad applicability that is capable of catalyzing the cross-coupling of aryl bromides, particularly a range of unreactive aryl chlorides, with various types of phosphorus substrates, such as a dialkyl phosphite, diphenylphosphine oxide, and diphenylphosphane. Consequently, the synthesis of valuable phosphonates, phosphine oxides, and phosphanes can be achieved with one catalyst system. Moreover, the reaction proceeds not only at a much lower temperature (100-120 °C) relative to the classic Arbuzov reaction (ca. 160-220 °C), but also without the need of external reductants and supporting ligands. In addition, owing to the relatively mild reaction conditions, a range of labile groups, such as ether, ester, ketone, and cyano groups, are tolerated. Finally, a brief mechanistic study revealed that by using [NiCl(2) (dppp)] as a catalyst, the Ni(II) center could be readily reduced in situ to Ni(0) by the phosphorus substrates due to the influence of the dppp ligand, thereby facilitating the oxidative addition of aryl halides to a Ni(0) center. This step is the key to bringing the reaction into the catalytic cycle.