In this review, cross-coupling reactions by cooperative Pd/Cu or Ni/Cu catalysis based on catalytically generated organocopper nucleophiles are summarized. Compared to conventional methods based on the use of stoichiometric amounts of pre-synthesized organometallic reagents, these methods are powerful tools for the alkynylation, arylation, alkenylation, and alkylation of organic electrophiles, especially as they can be carried out in a highly step-economical manner with readily available starting materials based on simple arenes, carboxylic acids, alkenes, and alkynes as pre-nucleophiles. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.