Various terphenyl and quaterphenyl derivatives were prepared by the Ni-NHC catalyzed cross coupling of the corresponding biphenyl- and terphenyl-sulfonates with arylmagnesium bromides. The reactions proceeded rapidly via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the alkoxysulfonyl moieties by the aryl nucleophiles to afford high yields within just 1.5 h at room temperature in spite of the low reactivity of the sulfur electrophiles.