To avoid confirmation bias, we entertained alterative mechanistic scenarios to explain C-C bond formation in the cross-coupling: 1) direct C• C• heterodimerization with suppression of one C• concentration by persistent Fe(II); 2) polar (SN2) C-C bond formation; 13q-s 3) coordination / migratory insertion; 3) radical (SH2) bond formation. The sum of the data, however, points to SH2 between a substituted benzyl radical and a primary alkyl iron.