Nickel(0)-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Cross-Coupling of Aromatic Esters with Arylboronic Acids via Chelation Assistance.

10-Arylbenzo[]quinolines were synthesized by cross-coupling of ethyl benzo[]quinoline-10-carboxylate with arylboronic acids group-directed Ni(0) catalyzation. The catalytic system combining Ni(COD) (10 mol %) with PCy (20 mol %) and -BuOK (3 equiv) was optimal for the above transformations. A series of arylboronic acids reacted with ethyl benzo[]quinoline-10-carboxylates for the production of various substituted 10-phenyl[]quinolines in moderate and good yields under optimized reaction conditions.