Nucleophilic displacement at benzhydryl centers: asymmetric synthesis of 1,1-diarylalkyl derivatives.

[reaction: see text] Activation of substituted 1,1-diarylmethanols as their corresponding toluenesulfonates and subsequent displacement with a range of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur nucleophiles proceeds in 81-96% yield. Enantiomerically enriched diarylmethanols 8a-c were activated and displaced with pyridine acetate enolate with complete stereochemical inversion at carbon to yield 1,1-diarylalkyl derivatives 10a-c without loss of optical purity.