Selective Conversion of Benzylic Phosphates into Diarylmethanes Through Al(OTf)3 -Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts-Type Benzylation

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Polyfunctional Triarylmethanes and 1,1-Diarylalkanes by Sequential Cross-Coupling of Benzal Diacetates with Organozinc Reagents

A variety of functionalized triarylmethane and 1,1-diarylalkane derivatives were prepared via a transition-metal-free, one-pot and two-step procedure, involving the reaction of various benzal diacetates with organozinc reagents. A sequential cross-coupling is enabled by changing the solvent from THF to toluene, and a two-step SN 1-type mechanism was proposed and evidenced by experimental studies. The synthetic utility of the method is further demonstrated by the synthesis of several biologically relevant molecules, such as an anti-tuberculosis agent, an anti-breast cancer agent, a precursor of a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, and a FLAP inhibitor.

Synthesis of difluoromethylated diarylmethanes via Fe(OTf)3-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2,2-difluoro-1-arylethyl phosphates

The Fe(OTf)₃-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2,2-difluoro-1-arylethyl phosphates with electron-rich (hetero)arenes afforded difluoromethylated diarylmethanes. Control experiments showed that Fe(OTf)₃ behaves as the Lewis acid, and that the phosphate leaving group and o- or p-alkoxy substituents on the substrates are necessary for the Fe(OTf)₃-catalyzed reaction to proceed under mild conditions.