2- or 3-bromothiophene are efficiently coupled with activated alkyl chlorides (alpha-chloroesters, alpha-chloroketones, alpha-chloronitriles), benzyl chloride or vinyl halides, in a one step electrochemical reaction, using the sacrificial anode process and catalysis by NiBr2-2,2'-bipyridine (bipy). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.