Electrochemical Nickel Catalysis for Sp-Sp Cross-Electrophile Coupling Reactions of Unactivated Alkyl Halides.

A constant-current electrochemical method for reducing catalytic nickel complexes in sp-sp cross-electrophile coupling reactions has been developed. The electrochemical reduction provides reliable nickel catalyst activation and turnover and offers a tunable parameter for reaction optimization, in contrast to more standard activated metal powder reductants. The electrochemical reactions give yields (i.e., 51-86%) and selectivities as high or superior to those using metal powder reductants and provide access to a wider substrate scope.