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.