Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of benzylic phosphates with arylboronic acids.

[reaction: see text] Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of benzylic phosphates with arylboronic acids was investigated. Optimum conditions employed the simple catalytic system of palladium(II) acetate (1 mol %) and triphenylphosphine (4 mol %) with either potassium phosphate or potassium carbonate as the base and toluene as the solvent at 90 degrees C. Using the developed conditions, a series of structurally diverse diarylmethanes were prepared.