Electrochemically Enabled, Nickel-Catalyzed Dehydroxylative Cross-Coupling of Alcohols with Aryl Halides

As alcohols are ubiquitous throughout chemical science, this functional group represents a highly attractive starting material for forging new C-C bonds. Here, we demonstrate that the combination of anodic preparation of the alkoxy triphenylphosphonium ion and nickel-catalyzed cathodic reductive cross-coupling provides an efficient method to construct C(sp2)-C(sp3) bonds, in which free alcohols and aryl bromides-both readily available chemicals-can be directly used as coupling partners. This nickel-catalyzed paired electrolysis reaction features a broad substrate scope bearing a wide gamut of functionalities, which was illustrated by the late-stage arylation of several structurally complex natural products and pharmaceuticals.