Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-fluorobenzofurans with arylboronic acids via aromatic C-F bond activation.

2-Fluorobenzofurans underwent efficient nickel-catalyzed coupling with arylboronic acids through the activation of aromatic C-F bonds. This method allowed us to successfully synthesize a range of 2-arylbenzofurans with various substituents. The reaction, which proceeded under mild conditions, involved β-fluorine elimination from nickelacyclopropanes formed by the interaction of 2-fluorobenzofurans with zero-valent nickel species. This protocol facilitates orthogonal coupling reactions of aromatic C-F and C-Br bonds with arylboronic acids.