Isolation and Reactivity of Arylnickel(II) Complexes in Nickel-Catalyzed Borylation of Aryl Fluorosulfates

Aryl fluorosulfates have emerged as versatile SuFExable substrates, harnessing the reactivity of the S–F bond. In this study, we unveil their alternative synthetic utility in nickel-catalyzed borylation via C–O bond activation. This method highlights mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and moderate functional group tolerance, rendering it a practical and appealing approach for synthesizing a diverse array of aryl boronate esters. Furthermore, computational analysis sheds light on the reaction pathways, uncovering the participation of LNi(0) and LNi­(II)­ArX species. This insight is supported by the 31P NMR reaction monitoring along with isolation and single-crystal X-ray structural elucidation of well-defined arylnickel­(II) intermediates obtained from the oxidative addition of aryl fluorosulfates. A comprehensive investigation, merging experimental and computational approaches, deepens our understanding of the alternative reactivity of SuFExable substrates.