The aim of this diploma thesis was to investigate the reaction between styrenes and 3-bromobenzaldehyde in the presence of the nickel catalyst Ni(PPh3)2Cl2 under reductive conditions. The reactions were carried out with different styrenes and it was found that under the conditions described two reactions proceed one after another, i.e. coupling and reduction.
On the basis of previous studies and as part of the present research work, we have concluded that the reaction most likely proceeds by the in situ formation of a nickel hydride which first coordinates to a styrene and the resulting intermediate reacts with an aryl halide to form a new carbon-carbon bond. This step is followed by the reduction of the aldehyde to a hydroxy group, forming structurally complex benzyl alcohol.
Using NMR and IR spectroscopy along with HRMS, we have characterized the resulting products and found that we have succeeded preparing 4 new such products.
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