Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Ethyl Chlorofluoroacetate with Aryl Bromides

A combinatorial nickel-catalyzed monofluoroalkylation of aryl bromides with the industrial raw regent ethyl chlorofluoroacetate has been developed. The two key factors to successful conversion are the combination of nickel with readily available nitrogen and phosphine ligands and the using of a mixture of different solvents. Mechanistic investigations indicated a new zinc regent might generated in situ and be involved in the reaction process.