Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Aryl 2-Pyridyl Ethers with Organozinc Reagents: Removal of the Directing Group via Cleavage of the Carbon-Oxygen Bonds.

Reaction of aryl 2-pyridyl ethers with arylzinc reagents under catalysis of NiCl(PCy) affords aryl-aryl cross-coupling products via selective cleavage of C-OPy bonds. The reaction features a wide substrate range and good compatibility of functional groups. β-H-free alkylzinc reagents are also applicable as the nucleophiles in the transformation, whereas β-H-containing alkylzinc reagents lead to a mixture of cross-coupling and hydrogenation products.