Nickel and Nucleophilic Cobalt-Catalyzed Trideuteriomethylation of Aryl Halides Using Trideuteriomethyl p-Toluenesulfonate.

Herein, a novel approach for the trideuteriomethylation of aryl halides using nickel and nucleophilic cobalt catalysts and the readily available trideuteriomethyl p-toluenesulfonate (CD3OTs) is described. This method provides access to a wide range of CD3-containing arenes. Moreover, a transmethylation step is revealed as crucial in the nickel/cobalt catalytic mechanism.