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.