Integration of Proximal Alkoxide and Lewis Acidic Cations To Boost Nickel-Catalyzed Borylation

Nickel catalysis offers a sustainable alternative to palladium catalysis for cross-coupling reactions, yet ligands tailored for nickel catalysis are lacking. We introduce new phosphine ligands designed to facilitate the incorporation of Lewis acidic cations. The combination of a phosphinoalcohol ligand with either (<i>n</i>-Bu)₂Mg or KHMDS, as a source of Mg²⁺ or K⁺ cations respectively, proved to be optimal for the borylation of aryl chlorides. Studies verified that incorporation of Lewis acidic cations in the proximity of the Ni center enhances reactivity.