Nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of aryl chlorides with allylic alcohols

Nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of aryl chlorides with allylic alcohols proceeds readily under mild conditions in the presence of zinc powder and MgCl2 to produce allylarenes in 25-92% yields. The reaction shows high regioselectivity and E/Z-selectivity, giving linear allylation products with an E configurated double bond when 1- or 3-arylallyl alcohols were used as the substrates. Functional groups including F, CF3, COOEt, NMe2, OMe, SiMe3, OH and vinyl groups as well as nitrogen-containing heterocycles were tolerated.