Cross-Coupling of Benzyl Halides with Aryl Trifluoroborates

Significance

Methylene-linked biaryl systems are common structural elements of many biologically active compounds. Although a variety of methods for their preparation is known, there is still a lack of a general synthetic protocol allowing a high functional group compatibility. The use of aryltrifluoroborate salts in C-C bond-forming reactions offers many advantages like air and moisture stability and good atom economy. This cross-coupling method is highly general, operationally easy and requires a relatively small amount of a commercial catalyst.