Rhodium catalyzed arylation of diazo compounds with aryl boronic acids.

A general and efficient synthesis of diarylacetate, a diarylmethine derivative, was accomplished through rhodium catalyzed direct arylation of diazo compounds with arylboronic acids. The reaction tolerates various boronic acid derivatives and functional groups. Notably, chemoselective arylation of diazo compounds over other electrophiles were demonstrated. The efficacy of the developed methodology is shown by the expeditious synthesis of the core structure of diclofensine.