Pd(0)/Xantphos-Catalyzed Benzylic C(sp)-O Arylation of Benzyl Heteroaryl Ethers: Reduction of Pd(II) to Pd(0) by Xantphos.

Herein, we report the synthesis of 1,1-diarylmethanes via palladium-catalyzed benzylic C(sp)-O arylation of benzyl alcohol derivatives. An efficient, straightforward approach to synthesizing Pd(0)(xantphos) was developed through in situ reduction of Pd(II) to Pd(0) with the bidentate tertiary phosphine xantphos, which proved to be a highly active precatalyst in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of benzyl heteroaryl ethers.