Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of unactivated tertiary alkyl nucleophiles and aryl bromides have been developed using N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. These processes are reviewed alongside earlier attempts to employ unactivated tertiary alkyl nucleophiles in cross-coupling reactions. Potential mechanisms for the transformations, and future challenges in this field are discussed.
Keywords: Grignard reaction; cross-coupling; homogeneous catalysis; nickel; transition metals.