Evidence for a unifying NiI/NiIII mechanism in light-mediated cross-coupling catalysis

Advances in nickel catalysis have significantly broadened the synthetic chemists’ toolbox, particularly through methodologies leveraging paramagnetic nickel species via photoredox catalysis or electrochemistry. Key to these reactions is the oxidation state modulation of nickel via single-electron transfer events. Recent mechanistic studies indicate that C(sp2)–heteroatom bond formations proceed through NiI/NiIII cycles. Related C(sp2)–C(sp3) cross-couplings operate via the photocatalytic generation of C-centered radicals and a catalytic cycle that involves Ni0, NiI, and NiIII species. Here, we show that light-mediated nickel-catalyzed C(sp2)–C(sp3) bond formations can be carried out without using exogenous photoredox catalysts but with a photoactive ligand. In a pursuit of expanding the scope of C(sp2)–heteroatom couplings using donor–acceptor ligands, we identified a photoactive nickel complex capable of catalyzing cross-couplings between aryl halides and benzyltrifluoroborate salts. Mechanistic investigations provide evidence that transmetalation between a photochemically generated NiI species and the organoboron compound is the key catalytic step in a NiI/NiIII catalytic cycle under these conditions.