Thermally activated (NHC)NiCp2 precatalysts for the cross-coupling of amines with aryl chlorides

Readily accessible (NHC)NiCp₂ complexes were identified as efficient thermally activated precatalysts for the C–N cross-coupling reaction between unactivated aryl chlorides and anilines or secondary aliphatic amines. The optimized catalytic system enables the selective coupling of sterically hindered partners and tolerates fluoride substituents in the aromatic rings.