Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Coupling To Access 1,1-Diarylalkanes

An asymmetric Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of (hetero)­aryl iodides and benzylic chlorides has been developed to prepare enantioenriched 1,1-diarylalkanes. As part of these studies, a new chiral bioxazoline ligand, 4-heptyl-BiOX (L1), was developed in order to obtain products in synthetically useful yield and enantioselectivity. The reaction tolerates a variety of heterocyclic coupling partners, including pyridines, pyrimidines, indoles, and piperidines.