Arylation of Aldehydes To Directly Form Ketones via Tandem Nickel Catalysis

A nickel-catalyzed arylation of both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes proceeds with air-stable (hetero)arylboronic acids, with an exceptionally wide substrate scope. The neutral condition tolerates acidic hydrogen and sensitive polar groups and also preserves alpha-stereocenters of some chiral aldehydes. Interestingly, this nickel(0) catalysis does not follow common 1,2-insertion of arylmetal species to aldehydes and beta-hydrogen elimination.