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An original multi-cooperative catalytic approach was developed by combining metal-ligand cooperation and Lewis acid activation. The [(SCS)Pd] 2 complex featuring a non-innocent indenediide-based ligand was found to be a very efficient and versatile catalyst for the Conia-ene reaction, when associated with Mg(OTf) 2 . The reaction operates at low catalytic loadings under mild conditions with HFIP as a co-solvent. It works with a variety of substrates, including those bearing internal alkynes. It displays complete 5- exo vs. 6- endo regio-selectivity. In addition, except for the highly congested t Bu-substituent, the reaction occurs with high Z vs. E stereo-selectivity, making it synthetically useful and complementary to known catalysts., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The first nickel catalyzed deprotonative cross coupling between C(sp 3 )-H bonds and aryl chlorides is reported, allowing the challenging arylation of benzylimines in the absence of directing group or stoichiometric metal activation. This methodology represents a convenient access to the (diarylmethyl)amine moiety, which is widespread in pharmaceutically relevant compounds.