Nickel-Catalyzed Monosubstitution of Polyfluoroarenes with Organozinc Reagents Using Alkoxydiphosphine Ligand

A new diphosphine (POP) ligand bearing an alkoxide group allows us to synthesize partially fluorinated arenes. A nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling between a polyfluoroarene and an organozinc reagent in the presence of POP selectively produces a monosubstitution product. Aryl and alkylzinc reagents smoothly take part in the reaction. It is speculated that monosubstitution is the result of accelerated product expulsion from the product/catalyst complex.