Cross-selective Deoxygenative Coupling of Aliphatic Alcohols: Installation of Methyl Groups including Isotopic Labels by Nickel Catalysis.

Nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling reactions of two aliphatic alcohol derivatives remain a challenge. Herein, we report a nickel-catalyzed reductive methylation reaction of aliphatic mesylates with methyl tosylate. This reaction provides straightforward access to compounds bearing aliphatic methyl groups from alkyl alcohol derivatives.