Novel and highly efficient one pot protocol for the synthesis of diversely functionalized triarylmethanes

An efficient, convenient, and novel one pot approach is described for the synthesis of triarylmethanes by in situ oxidation of benzylalcohols followed by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of di/trimethoxybenzenes in the presence of BF3 center dot OEt2. The generality of the present method is strengthened by screening a variety of aromatic, aliphatic, and heteroaromatic alcohols with methoxy arenes. Shorter reaction time, mild reaction condition, good yields, and wide scope of substrates are the significant features of this protocol. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.