The use of phenol and carboxylic acid derivatives as electrophiles in nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions has undergone exponential growth in the last two decades, becoming a powerful synthetic tool for forging C–C and C–heteroatom bonds. This review summarizes the most recent developments in the utilization of non-particularly activated C−O electrophiles such as carbamates, pivalates, methyl ethers and aryl methyl esters.