Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of neopentyl arenesulfonates with methyl and primary alkylmagnesium bromides.

[reaction: see text] Neopentyl arenesulfonates were reacted with methyl and primary alkylmagnesium bromides in the presence of dppeNiCl(2), via the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of neopentyloxysulfonyl groups by the primary alkyl nucleophiles, to produce the corresponding alkylarenes in good yields. This result shows that the alkyloxysulfonyl group might be a suitable alternative to halides and triflate in some circumstances.