N,N'-Bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium chloride associated with nickel(II) acetylacetonate (3-5 mol %) was used as catalyst to efficiently cross-couple functionalized aryl bromides with organomanganese reagents. The reactions were performed between 0 8C and room temperature, giving unsymmetrical biaryls in 0.25 to 24 h with 52 to 100 % yields for isolated materials. Aryl chlorides showed slightly diminished reactivity in Ni/2 IPr-catalyzed cross-couplings and good yields could only be attained with activated or neutral substrates.

The Ni(0)-IPr complex efficiently catalyzes the cross-coupling of aryl halides with arylmanganese chlorides under mild conditions. A wide range of functional groups is tolerated but enolizable ketones, nitroarenes and carbonyl compounds are not suitable for this method. -(LELEU, A.; FORT, Y.; SCHNEIDER*, R.; Adv. Synth. Catal. 348 (2006) 9, 1086-1092; Lab. Chim. Phys. Microbiol. Environ., CNRS, Univ. Henri Poincare, F-54001 Nancy, Fr.; Eng.) -Mischke 45-077