Nickel-Catalyzed Csp2-Csp3 Bond Formation by Carbon-Fluorine Activation

We report herein a general catalytic method for Csp(2)Csp(3) bond formation through CF activation. The process uses an inexpensive nickel complex with either diorganozinc or alkylzinc halide reagents, including those with -hydrogen atoms. A variety of fluorine substitution patterns and functional groups can be readily incorporated. Sequential reactions involving different precatalysts and coupling partners permit the synthesis of densely functionalized fluorinated building blocks.