Nickel-Catalyzed Transformation of Aryl 2-Pyridyl Ethers via Cleavage of the Carbon-Oxygen Bond: Synthesis of Mono--arylated Ketones

The nickel/IPr-catalyzed reaction of aryl 2-pyridyl ethers with propiophenone and acetophenone derivatives via C-OPy bond cleavage is performed in the presence of t -BuOLi to give mono--arylated ketones in moderate yields. The method is suitable for electron-rich and electron-poor ethers as well as heteroaryl ethers and tolerates a range of active functional groups.