Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of -Metalated Ketones with Unactivated Alkyl Bromides

A nickel-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling reaction of aryl cyclopropyl ketones with easily accessible unactivated alkyl bromides to access aryl alkyl ketones has been developed. This strategy facilitates access to various of gamma-alkyl-substituted ketones via ring opening of cydopropyl ketones (26 examples, 50-90% yield). Initial mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeds via radical cleavage of the alkyl bromide.