Rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of unsymmetrical di(aryl/heteroaryl)methanes using aryl/heteroarylmethyl ketones via CO-C bond cleavage.

RhH(PPh3)4 and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene catalyze the reaction of aryl/heteroarylmethyl ketones and aryl heteroaryl ethers giving unsymmetrical diarylmethanes containing one or two heteroarenes in high yields. The reaction does not use alkali metal bases, and therefore does not form large amounts of metal waste.