Synthesis of functionalised diarylmethanes via a cobalt-catalysed cross-coupling of arylzinc species with benzyl chlorides.

A new cobalt-catalysed reductive coupling of aryl halides with benzyl chlorides is reported; a variety of diarylmethanes can be prepared in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions using CoBr(2) as catalyst and Zn dust; this new cobalt-catalysed coupling represents a practical and interesting alternative to previously known methods for the synthesis diarylmethanes.