Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Coupling between Heteroaryl Iodides and α‑Chloronitriles

A Ni-catalyzed asymmetric reductive
cross-coupling of heteroaryl
iodides and α-chloronitriles has been developed. This method
furnishes enantioenriched α,α-disubstituted nitriles from
simple organohalide building blocks. The reaction tolerates a variety
of heterocyclic coupling partners, including pyridines, pyrimidines,
quinolines, thiophenes, and piperidines. The reaction proceeds under
mild conditions at room temperature and precludes the need to pregenerate
organometallic nucleophiles.