Pd-catalyzed chemoselective threefold cross-coupling of triarylbismuths with benzylic bromides

An efficient palladium-catalyzed protocol was demonstrated for the chemoselective cross-coupling of functionalized benzylic bromides with triarylbismuth reagents. Under the established conditions, catalyzed by palladium in the presence of K3PO4 base in DMA at 90 degrees C for 1 h, the threefold arylations using triarylbismuth reagents proceeded smoothly with electronically diverse benzylic bromides. All the coupling reactions furnished the corresponding functionalized diarylmethanes in high yields.