Electron‐Poor, Fluoro‐Containing Arylboronic Acids as Efficient Coupling Partners for Bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel(0)/Tricyclohexylphosphine‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions of Aryl Arenesulfonates

The use of electron‐poor, fluoro‐containing arylboronic acids as general coupling partners for nickel(0)/tricyclohexylphosphine‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aryl arenesulfonates is described. Electron‐poor fluoro‐containing arylboronic acids were found to react faster than electron‐rich/neutral arylboronic acids, with (4‐methoxyphenyl)(4‐methylbenzenesulfonato‐κO)bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)nickel. Bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel(0)/tricyclohexylphosphine, (4‐methoxyphenyl)(4‐methylbenzenesulfonato‐κO)bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)nickel and bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)nickel(II) bromide were all found to be efficient catalysts/catalyst precursors.