A nickel-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of aryl halides facilitated by pyridine derivatives.

[Display omitted] • NiBr 2 ·DME catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of (hetero)aryl halides. • 1,4-bis(2-methylpyridin-4-yl)benzene was used as ligand. • 43 examples of products in 33% to 98% yields. A nickel-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction facilitated by pyridine derivative ligands is reported. A wide range of (hetero) aryl halides and (hetero) aryl boronic acids were compatible, which led to the corresponding products in moderate to good yields. A gram-scale reaction proceeded well and afforded an efficient route to prepare methyl [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]