Stable Nickel(0) Phosphites as Catalysts for CN Cross-Coupling Reactions.

Herein we describe the design and preparation of inexpensive, air-stable nickel phosphite-based catalysts for use in the CN cross-coupling reaction. The combination of nickel tetrakis(triphenyl phosphite) {Ni[P(OPh)3]4} and 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), and in particular a newly developed catalyst (dppf)Ni[P(OPh)3]2, were found to be extremely effective in catalyzing a range of amination reactions of anilines and amines with aryl chlorides. This new catalyst system offers an alternative to the bis(cyclooctadienyl)nickel [Ni(COD)2] and palladium(0) catalysts commonly used for CN bond formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]