Reactions of nickel(0) with organochlorides, organobromides, and organoiodides: mechanisms and structure/reactivity relationships

The reactions of nickel(0) complexes with organohalides have been reviewed. The review is divided according to the class of ligand that is present on nickel: phosphine, N-heterocyclic carbene, or bidentate nitrogen ligand. The preferred mechanism of reaction is often determined by a delicate balance of ligand and substrate structure, and relatively small changes can lead to large differences in behaviour. This will have an impact on the progress of catalytic reactions that use organohalide substrates, and may influence ligand selection and/or the scope and limitations of the reaction.