Efficient hydroarylation and hydroalkenylation of vinylarenes by Brønsted acid catalysis

Abstract

Brønsted acid Tf₂NH alone catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-type hydroarylation and head-to-tail hydroalkenylation of vinylarenes under mild reaction conditions have been realized, providing a readily scalable, metal-free, and practical access to the 1,1-diarylalkane scaffolds and trans-1,3-diaryl-1-butenes in high yields and excellent regioselectivities.