Calcium(II)-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydroarylation of Deactivated Styrenes in Hexafluoroisopropanol.

A challenging catalytic hydroarylation of highly electron deficient styrenes has been developed on the basis of efficient cooperation between a calcium(II) triflimide salt and hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). This method affords a large variety of diaryl alkanes, notably diaryl ethanes, in good to excellent yields, and is simple to implement and compatible with various functional groups. Furthermore, DFT calculations and deuterium labeling experiments were conducted to elucidate the function of this promoter system.