Palladium-catalyzed benzylic direct arylation of benzyl sulfones with aryl halides

An effective palladium catalyst system for the direct arylation of benzyl sulfones with aryl halides has been developed. The catalytic reaction provides a facile route to diarylmethyl sulfones. The products can be transformed further via desulfonylative functionalization mediated by aluminum compounds. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.