Dumbbell‐Shaped 2,2’‐Bipyridines: Controlled Metal Monochelation and Application to Ni‐Catalyzed Cross‐Couplings

2,2’‐Bipyridine ligands (dsbpys) with dumbbell‐like shapes and differently substituted triarylmethyl groups at the C5 and C5’ positions showed high ligand performance in the Ni‐catalyzed cross‐electrophile coupling and the Ni/photoredox‐synergistically catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reactions. The superior ligand effects of dsbpys compared to the conventional bpy ligands were attributed to the monochelating nature of dsbpys. 2,2’‐Bipyridine ligands (dsbpys) with dumbbell‐like shapes and differently substituted triarylmethyl groups at the C5 and C5’ positions showed high ligand performance in the Ni‐catalyzed cross‐electrophile coupling and the Ni/photoredox‐synergistically catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reactions (see figure). The superior ligand effects of dsbpys compared to the conventional bpy ligands were attributed to the monochelating nature of dsbpys.