C(aryl)-C(alkyl) bond formation from Cu(ClO4)2-mediated oxidative cross coupling reaction between arenes and alkyllithium reagents through structurally well-defined Ar-Cu(III) intermediates.

The stable and structurally well-defined Ar-Cu(III) intermediates, that are prepared almost quantitatively from the reaction of azacalix[1]arene[3]pyridines with Cu(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O under aerobic conditions, reacted smoothly with a number of alkyllithium reagents under mild conditions to form C(aryl)-C(alkyl) bonds.