A simple catalyst for the efficient benzylation of arenes by using alcohols, ethers, styrenes, aldehydes, or ketones.

One catalyst fits all! One catalyst is active for a wide set of benzylating reactions (see scheme). A tandem process allows the use of aldehydes and ketones as benzylating agents.The compound [IrCp*(OTf)(2)(I(nBu))] (I(nBu)=1,3-di-n-butyl-imidazolylidene) is an effective catalyst in the benzylation of arenes with different benzylating agents, such as alcohols, ethers and styrenes, representing an unprecedented highly versatile catalyst for this type of process. The same compound also catalyses a remarkable tandem process that allows the use of aldehydes and ketones as benzylating agents, through the base-free hydrogenation of C==O bonds with iPrOH and further use of the resulting primary or secondary alcohols as benzylating agents.