A cross-coupling reaction of allylic aryl ethers with arylmagnesium reagents was investigated using β-aminoketonato- and β-diketiminato-based pincer-type nickel(II) complexes as catalysts. An β-aminoketonato nickel(II) complex bearing a diphenylphosphino group as a third donor effectively catalyzed the reaction to afford the target cross-coupled products, allylbenzene derivatives, in high yield. The regioselective reaction of a variety of substituted cinnamyl ethers proceeded to give the corresponding linear products. In contrast, α- and γ-alkyl substituted allylic ethers afforded a mixture of the linear and branched products. These results indicated that the coupling reaction proceeded via a π-allyl nickel intermediate.
Keywords: allylic ether; cross-coupling; pincer-type nickel(II) complex.