Benzylation of arenes with benzyl halides synergistically promoted by in situ generated superacid boron trifluoride monohydrate and tetrahaloboric acid
To examine the assembly methodology of diarylmethanes, a benzylation of (hetero)arenes with benzyl halides has been developed and various diarylmethanes were furnished with yields of up to 98% and regioselectivities of up to >99%. The complexation of the by-product halogen hydride with BF3 center dot OEt2 generated the Bronsted acid BF3 center dot HX (HBF3X, X=Cl or Br) in situ to synergistically promote the benzylation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.