Iron-Catalyzed Negishi Coupling of Benzyl Halides and Phosphates

Significance

Diarylzinc compounds can be ­efficiently cross-coupled with benzylic chlorides, bromides or phosphates in the presence of iron/diphosphine complexes as catalysts. The reaction gives excellent yields of diarylmethanes also bearing labile functions. This is one of the first reports demonstrating high selectivity of different phosphine ligands for an iron-catalyzed reaction.