The synthesis and characterization of the air-stable nickel (II) complex trans-(PCy2Ph) 2Ni (o- tolyl) Cl is described in conjunction with an investigation of its use for the Mizoroki–Heck- type, room temperature, internally selective coupling of substituted benzyl chlorides with terminal alkenes. This reaction, which employs a terminal alkene as an alkenylmetal equivalent, provides rapid, convergent access to substituted allylbenzene derivatives in ...