Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Aryl RedoxactiveEsters with Aryl Zinc Reagents

A nickel-catalyzed aryl–aroyloxyl C(sp2)–O radical cross-coupling reaction conducted using a redox active ester with aryl zinc reagent was developed. This method demonstrates a new disconnection approach for formation of aryl aryl esters. In the one-pot sequential process, the readily available aryl carboxylic acids can be converted into functionalized aryl aryl esters and heteroaryl esters. This protocol is amenable to the gram-scale synthesis. The present method has a wide substrate scope and high functional group tolerance.