Pd-catalyzed desymmetric intramolecular O-arylation reaction: enantioselective synthesis of (3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-3-yl)methanols.

An enantioselective intramolecular O-arylation was achieved through desymmetrization with Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions. The intramolecular asymmetric aryl C-O coupling reactions of 2-(2-haloaryl)propane-1,3-diols led to the enantioselective formation of chiral (3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-3-yl)methanols in good yields and high enantiomeric selectivity.