Finally, other Ni-catalyzed reactions presented in previous reports on quaternary center synthesis suggest that a Ni(0) pathway can be operative when a chemical reductant is employed. To probe this possibility, several experiments were conducted (Figure ). First, a possible involvement of Ni(0) species in this cross-coupling was evaluated. When Ni(COD)2 was employed as precatalyst in the reaction, only traces of product were observed under inert conditions and under air, indicating that Ni(0) does not mediate this cross-coupling. To further support this assertion, a set of experiments were carried out with a preformed oxidative addition complex 58. Two different reactions employing a catalytic or stoichiometric amount of complex 58 failed to produce the desired product 60. As a control, the same reaction when conducted with the standard conditions provided 60 in 32% yield. Overall, the experiments outlined in Figure