Modular synthesis of triarylmethanes through palladium-catalyzed sequential arylation of methyl phenyl sulfone.

Triarylmethanes, which are valuable structures in materials, sensing and pharmaceuticals, have been synthesized starting from methyl phenyl sulfone as an inexpensive and readily available template. The three aryl groups were installed through two sequential palladium-catalyzed C-H arylation reactions, followed by an arylative desulfonation. This method provides a new synthetic approach to multisubstituted triarylmethanes using readily available haloarenes and aryl boronic acids, and is also valuable for the preparation of unexplored triarylmethane-based materials and pharmaceuticals.