Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of (Hetero)Aryl Iodides with Fluorinated Secondary Alkyl Bromides

A mild and efficient nickel-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling between fluorinated secondary alkyl bromides and (hetero)aryl iodides is described. The use of FeBr2 as an additive successfully overcomes the hydrodebromination and β-fluorine elimination of fluorinated substrates and allows the efficient synthesis of a wide range of trifluoromethyl and difluoroalkyl containing aliphatic compounds with a fluoroalkyl substituted tertiary carbon center. The notable features of this protocol are the synthetic and operational simplicity without preparation of moisture sensitive organometallic reagents and excellent functional group compatibility, even toward active proton containing substrates.