Feedstocks to Pharmacophores: Cu-Catalyzed Oxidative Arylation of Inexpensive Alkylarenes Enabling Direct Access to Diarylalkanes

A Cu-catalyzed method has been identified for selective oxidative arylation of benzylic C-H bonds with arylboronic esters. The resulting 1,1-diarylalkanes are accessed directly from inexpensive alkylarenes containing primary and secondary benzylic C-H bonds, such as toluene or ethylbenzene. All catalyst components are commercially available at low cost, and the arylboronic esters are either commercially available or easily accessible from the commercially available boronic acids. The potential utility of these methods in medicinal chemistry applications is highlighted.