Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of chlorodiphenylphosphine with aryl bromides into functionalized triarylphosphines

Functionalized triarylphosphines are obtained with good yields in a one-step reaction of an equimolar mixture of chlorodiphenylphosphine and an aromatic bromide in NMP or DMF at 110°C in the presence of zinc dust and a catalytic amount of NiBr2(bpy). A possible catalytic pathway is discussed.