Ligand-Free Nickel-Catalyzed Carbonyl Addition with Organoborons

Abstract

Carbonyl addition serves as a strategically straightforward and versatile approach for synthesizing alcohols, which are often encountered within bioactive molecules. Herein, we present a ligand-free, nickel-catalyzed carbonyl addition process using organoboron reagents. This method enables efficient arylation of readily available ketones or aldehydes, affording a variety of tertiary and secondary alcohols. Key highlights of this protocol include the obviation of external ligands and the tolerance to many functional groups and heterocycles, thereby enhancing its practicality and utility in synthetic organic chemistry.