Nickel(II) dihalide precatalysts with bidentate nitrogen ligands are widely used in cross-coupling reactions, notably in combination with photosensitizers, forming catalytic systems that currently drive major conceptual and synthetic thrusts within organic chemistry. Here the authors show a general mechanism by which these precatalysts are converted to the reduced, catalytically active species, using a range of characterization and spectroscopic techniques.
- Max Kudisch
- Reagan X. Hooper
- Obadiah G. Reid