Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to examine the reaction pathway of Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling with organoaluminum through C–O bond cleavage. The results indicate that the strong Lewis acidity of organoaluminums significantly facilitates the transmetalation step, but not the oxidative addition or reductive elimination step.
Key words
cross-coupling - C–O bond cleavage - nickel catalyst - organoaluminum - DFT calculation