The coupling of arylboronic acids with nitroarenes catalyzed by rhodium.

The coupling of arylboronic acids with electron-deficient nitroarenes was realized for the first time by using a rhodium(I) catalyst under an air atmosphere, achieving unsymmetrical diaryl ethers with yields ranging from poor to good. From a deuterium labeling experiment, the oxygen atom is derived from ambient water. The efficiency of this reaction was demonstrated by its compatibility with fluoro, bromo, chloro, and trifluoromethyl groups.