Table 1. Variation of the reaction parameters for the Ni-catalysed reductive arylalkylation reaction ^a .

Entry	Variation from the optimum conditions	Yield 3a b (%)	Yield: 3a-1 b (%)
1	None	69 (67 c )	9
2	Iodo-analogue of 1a used	32	19 (8 d )
3	Iodo-analogue of 2a used	10	18 (31 d )
4	Both iodo-analogues of 1a and 2a used	17	10 (30 d )
5	L2 instead of L1	30	49
6	L3 instead of L1	45	2
7	L4 instead of L1	54	13
8	L5 instead of L1	32	50
9	L6 instead of L1	0	0
10	NiI2 instead of NiBr2	61	8
11	Ni(OTf)2 instead of NiBr2	32	4
12	NiBr2·glyme instead of NiBr2	63	8
13	Ni(COD)2 instead of NiBr2	63	7
14	DMF instead of DMA	43	3
15	NMP	68	8
16	THF instead of DMA	0	0
17	MeCN instead of DMA	0	0
18	Mn instead of Zn	51	17
19	75 °C instead of 55 °C	62	8
20	35 °C instead of 55 °C	27	2
21	1.2 equiv. 2a used	50	13
22	10 mol% NiBr2 used	63	13
23	2 equiv. Zn used	50	7

^aUnless otherwise specified, reactions were performed on a 0.2 mmol scale of aryl bromide 1a with 2 equiv. bromobutyl acetate (2a), 15 mol% NiBr₂, 15 mol% ligand L1 and 4 equiv. Zn as the reductant in 0.5 mL DMA at 55 °C for 10 h.

^bGC-yields using n-dodecane as an internal standard.

^cYield of the isolated product.

^dYield of 3a-2.