available α,α-dichlorotoluenes enter a vicariousnucleophilicsubstitution (VNS) reaction with electron-deficient arenes to give α-chlorobenzylated nitrobenzenes, as well as six- and five-membered heterocycles. Oxidation of the initially formed α-chlorobenzylic carbanions instead of protonation results in formation of diaryl ketones, providing a means for overall nucleophilic C–H benzoylation of electron-deficient