Unsymmetrical biaryls may be prepared in an efficient manner using aryl chlorides as substrates in Negishi-type cross-coupling reactions with arylzinc reagents via either Ni-or Pd- catalysis. Since a wide range of functional groups (eg, nitrile, carbonyl, ester) tolerate arylzinc compounds, this methodology allows for the direct synthesis of biaryls from aryl chlorides possessing these moieties.
[Caron, Stephane; Massett, Steve S.; Bogle, David E.; Castaldi, Michael J.; Braish, Tamim F. Organic Process Research and Development, 2001 , vol. 5, # 3 p. 254 - 256]