Mild and selective reductions of aryl halides catalyzed by low-valent nickel complexes

Treatment of aryl chlorides with catalytic amounts of (PPh3)2NiCl2+PPh3in the presence of an equivalent of Me2NH·BH3and either K2CO3or Cs2CO3in CH3CN under mild conditions leads to the corresponding product of reduction. Aryl bromides and iodides can also be reduced, selectively, using this reagent combination.