The NiCl2–Li–arene(cat.) combination: A versatile reducing mixture

Abstract

The NiCl₂·2H₂O–Li–arene(cat.) combination described in this tutorial review has shown to be a useful and versatile mixture able to reduce a broad range of functionalities bearing carbon–carbon multiple bonds, as well as carbon–heteroatom and heteroatom–heteroatom single and multiple bonds. The analogous deuterated combination, NiCl₂·2D₂O–Li–arene(cat.), allows the easy incorporation of deuterium in the reaction products. Alternatively, the anhydrous NiCl₂–Li–arene (or polymer-supported arene)(cat.) system generates a highly reactive metallic nickel, which in the presence of molecular hydrogen at atmospheric pressure is able to catalyze the hydrogenation of almost the same type of functionalities mentioned above.