Discovery of the cross-coupling reaction between Grignard reagents and C(Sp2) halides catalyzed by nickel-phosphine complexes

This mini-review traces the initial ideas, discoveries and significant features of the cross-coupling reaction between Grignard reagents and C(sp(2))-halides such as aryl and alkenyl halides in the presence of a nickel-phosphine complex as a catalyst, which was first reported by Kohei Tamao, Koji Sumitani, and Makoto Kumada in 1972. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.