Nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of aryl thiols with aryl bromides via C-S bond activation

The reaction of aryl thiols with aryl bromides usually provides thioethers as the major products, even in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and a zinc mediator. We report here a cross-electrophile coupling of aryl thiols with aryl bromides via C-S bond activation instead of S-H bond cleavage. The reaction proceeded effectively in the presence of a nickel catalyst, magnesium turnings, and lithium chloride in THF at room temperature to afford a variety of structurally diverse biaryls in moderate to good yields.