Sequential olefination-dimerisation of benzylic dithioacetals by the nickel-catalysed reaction with methyl Grignard or zinc reagent.

Products of main group elements from cross-coupling reactions have been shown to serve as Lewis acids, mediating further reactions of organic coupling products. Thus, the nickel-catalysed olefination of benzylic dithioacetal with MeMgI in benzene in a sealed Schlenk tube at 130 °C generates magnesium mercaptide which regioselectively converts 2-arylpropene into a dimer in good yield. Aryl iodide reacts with 2-propenylmagnesium bromide in the presence of 1,2-ethanedithiol and NiCl(PPh) to yield the same dimer.