Direct cross-coupling of benzyl alcohols to construct diarylmethanes via palladium catalysis.

A direct arylation to furnish diarylmethanes from benzyl alcohols was realized through Pd(PPh3)4-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling via benzylic C-O activation in the absence of any additives. The arylation is compatible with various functional groups. This development provides an atom- and step-economic way to approach a diarylmethane scaffold under mild and environmentally benign conditions.