Reductive Couplings of 2-Halopyridines without External Ligand: Phosphine-Free Nickel-Catalyzed Synthesis of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical 2,2′-Bipyridines

An unexpectedly facile synthetic approach for symmetrical and unsymmetrical 2,2'-bipyridines through the Ni-catalyzed reductive couplings of 2-halopyridines was developed. The couplings were efficiently catalyzed by 5 mol % of NiCl2 center dot 6H(2)O without the use of external ligands. A variety of 2,2'-bipyridines including caerulomycin F have been efficiently synthesized.