Synthesis of benzodiquinanes via tandem palladium-catalyzed semipinacol rearrangement and direct arylation.

A palladium-catalyzed tandem semipinacol rearrangement/direct arylation reaction using α-aryl isopropenyl-tert-cyclobutanols has been developed. This reaction gives access to benzodiquinanes in moderate to good yields and tolerates alkyl-, alkoxy-, and halogen-substituted aryl groups.