Nickel-Catalyzed Direct Alkenylation of Methyl Heteroarenes with Primary Alcohols.

An efficient nickel-catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of methyl-substituted heteroarenes with primary alcohols is achieved using an in situ generated complex of inexpensive NiBr2 and readily available 8-aminoquinoline picolinic amide ligand. The protocol is operationally simple and scalable and furnishes a series of high-value 2-alkenylheteroarenes in good yields (up to 88%) with exclusive E-selectivity. The reaction proceeds with the release of water and molecular hydrogen, which was analyzed through gas chromatography to validate the reaction mechanism.