Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of unactivated tertiary alkyl nucleophiles
and aryl bromides have been developed using N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. These
processes are reviewed alongside earlier attempts to employ unactivated tertiary alkyl
nucleophiles in cross-coupling reactions. Potential mechanisms for the transformations,
and future challenges in this field are discussed.
Key words
nickel - cross-coupling - transition metals - homogeneous catalysis - Grignard reaction