Nickel(0)–catalyzed cross–coupling of heteroaryl–containing diarylmethanes with both aryl bromides and chlorides has been achieved. The success of this reaction relies on the introduction of a unique nickel/NIXANTPHOS–based catalyst system, which provides a direct route to triarylmethanes from heteroaryl–containing diarylmethanes. Reactivity studies indicate the Ni(NIXANTPHOS)–based catalyst exhibits enhanced reactivity over XANTPHOS derivatives and other Ni(phosphine)-based catalysts in the reactions examined.

An efficient room-temperature palladium-catalyzed direct 2-arylation of benzoxazoles with aryl bromides is presented. The Pd(OAc)2/NiXantphos-based catalyst enables the introduction of various aryl and heteroaryl groups, via a deprotonative cross-coupling process (DCCP) in good to excellent yields (75–99%).