Time-Economical Synthesis of Diarylacetates Enabled by TfOH-Catalyzed Arylation of α-Aryl-α-Diazoesters with Arenes

Diarylacetates are privileged structures of many bioactive natural products and pharmaceutical compounds. A time-economical synthesis of diarylacetates by TfOH-catalyzed arylation of alpha-aryl-alpha-diazoesters with arenes is described. This protocol provides a variety of diarylacetates in good yields with broad substrate scope, excellent functional group compatibility, and mild reaction conditions. Also, a new mechanism for the arylation reaction of alpha-aryl-alpha-diazoesters with arenes under TfOH catalysis is presented.

Automated summary

This study presents a time-economical method for the synthesis of diarylacetates through the TfOH-catalyzed arylation of alpha-aryl-alpha-diazoesters with arenes, offering good yields with broad substrate scope, excellent functional group compatibility, and mild reaction conditions. Additionally, a new mechanism for the arylation reaction of alpha-aryl-alpha-diazoesters with arenes under TfOH catalysis is proposed.