Ester Transfer Reaction of Aromatic Esters with Haloarenes and Arenols by a Nickel Catalyst

A catalytic ester transfer reaction of aromatic esters with aryl halides/arenols was developed. The present reaction can transfer an ester functional group from certain aromatic esters to haloarenes. This ester transfer reaction involves two oxidative additions-one from the C-C bond of the aromatic ester and one from the C-halogen bond of haloarenes-onto a nickel catalyst. The utilization of a Ni/dcypt catalyst capable of cleaving both chemical bonds was a key for the reaction progress. Furthermore, naphthol-based aryl electrophiles were also applicable to the catalytic system via C-O bond activation.