Asymmetric synthesis of diarylmethanols by Rh(I)-catalyzed arylation of aromatic aldehydes
with arylboronic acids, is described. A catalyst comprised of [RhCl(coe)2]2 and i-Pr-DuPHOS affords diarylmethanols with up to 66% ee. To the best of our knowledge
this is the best enantioselectivity reported for Rh-catalyzed arylation of aldehydes.
Rh-catalyzed arylation - diarylmethanol - arylboronic acid - DuPHOS - aldehyde