Iridium‐Catalyzed Reactions of ω‐Arylalkanols to α,ω‐Diarylalkanes

The long and the short of it: An atom-economical route to α,ω-diarylalkanes from ω-arylalkanols was achieved by a direct one-step method, or a sequential two-step method depending on the alkyl chain length. The reaction proceeded through the formation of β-methylhydroxy-α,ω-diarylalkanes by dehydrogenation/β-alkylation, followed by dehydrogenation/decarbonylation.