biostudies-literatureUnknown6Muto KThe Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling is a metal-catalysed reaction in which boron-based nucleophiles and halide-based electrophiles are reacted to form a single molecule. This is one of the most reliable tools in synthetic chemistry, and is extensively used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and organic materials. Herein, we report a significant advance in the choice of electrophilic coupling partner in this reaction. With a user-friendly and inexpensive nickel catalyst, a range of phenyl esters of aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids react with boronic acids in a decarbonylative manner. Overall, phenyl ester moieties function as leaving groups. Theoretical calculations uncovered key mechanistic features of this unusual decarbonylative coupling. Since extraoNature communications7508https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4491840biostudies-literatureDecarbonylative organoboron cross-coupling of esters by nickel catalysis.PMC4491840Muto KMusaev DGYamaguchi JItami KfalseDecarbonylative organoboron cross-coupling of esters by nickel catalysis.The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling is a metal-catalysed reaction in which boron-based nucleophiles and halide-based electrophiles are reacted to form a single molecule. This is one of the most reliable tools in synthetic chemistry, and is extensively used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and organic materials. Herein, we report a significant advance in the choice of electrophilic coupling partner in this reaction. With a user-friendly and inexpensive nickel catalyst, a range of phenyl esters of aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids react with boronic acids in a decarbonylative manner. Overall, phenyl ester moieties function as leaving groups. Theoretical calculations uncovered key mechanistic features of this unusual decarbonylative coupling. Since extrao2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Jun2026-05-01T14:49:26.874Z2019-03-27T01:54:35ZS-EPMC44918402611873310.1038/ncomms8508