Discovery of the cross-coupling reaction between Grignard reagents and C(sp2) halides catalyzed by nickel–phosphine complexes

This mini-review traces the initial ideas, discoveries and significant features of the cross-coupling reaction between Grignard reagents and C(sp2)-halides such as aryl and alkenyl halides in the presence of a nickel–phosphine complex as a catalyst, which was first reported by Kohei Tamao, Koji Sumitani, and Makoto Kumada in 1972.