1,3-Dicyclohexylimidazol-2-ylidene as a Superior Ligand for the Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings of Aryl and Benzyl Methyl Ethers with Organoboron Reagents

A new catalytic system has been developed involving the use of Ni(cod)2 in conjunction with 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazol-2-ylidene for the cross-coupling of aryl and benzyl methyl ethers with organoboron reagents. This method not only allows for the use of readily available methyl ethers as halide surrogates but also provides a functional group tolerant method for the late-stage derivatization of complex molecules.