Enantioselective reductive cross-couplings to forge C(sp2)–C(sp3) bonds by merging electrochemistry with nickel catalysis
Yun-Zhao Wang, Bing Sun, Jianfeng Guo, Xiaoyu Zhu, Yu‐Cheng Gu, Yaping Han, Cong Ma, Tian‐Sheng Mei
Abstract
Abstract Motivated by the inherent benefits of synergistically combining electrochemical methodologies with nickel catalysis, we present here a Ni-catalyzed enantioselective electroreductive cross-coupling of benzyl chlorides with aryl halides, yielding chiral 1,1-diaryl compounds with good to excellent enantioselectivity. This catalytic reaction can not only be applied to aryl chlorides/bromides, which are challenging to access by other means, but also to benzyl chlorides containing silicon groups. Additionally, the absence of a sacrificial anode lays a foundation for scalability. The combination of cyclic voltammetry analysis with electrode potential studies suggests that Ni I species activate aryl halides via oxidative addition and alkyl chlorides via single electron transfer.