Room temperature Ni-catalyzed reduction of aryl tosylates by borane hydrides

Mild Ni-catalyzed homogeneous reductions of aryl tosylates are described for the first time. The catalytic system Ni(PPh3)2Cl2 and PCy3 is shown to be general for hydrogenolysis of a wide range of tosylates, including hindered, deactivated, heterocyclic, and bifunctional examples.