Coupling of Challenging Heteroaryl Halides with Alkyl Halides via Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Electrophile Coupling

Despite their importance, the synthesis of alkylated heterocycles from the cross-coupling of Lewis basic nitrogen heteroaryl halides with alkyl halides remains a challenge. We report here a general solution to this challenge enabled by a new collection of ligands based around 2-pyridyl-N-cyanocarboxamidine and 2-pyridylcarboxamidine cores. Both primary and secondary alkyl halides can be coupled with 2-, 3-, and 4-pyridyl halides as well as other more complex heterocycles in generally good yields (41 examples, 69% ave yield).