Selective Cross-Dehydrogenative C(sp3)–H Arylation with Arenes

Selective C(sp3)–C(sp2) bond construction is of central interest in chemical synthesis. Despite the success of classic cross-coupling reactions, the cross-dehydrogenative coupling between inert C(sp3)–H and C(sp2)–H bonds represents an attractive alternative toward new C(sp3)–C(sp2) bonds. Herein, we establish a selective inter- and intramolecular C(sp3)–H arylation of alcohols with nondirected arenes that thereby provides a general pathway to access a wide range of β-arylated alcohols, including tetrahydronaphthalen-2-ols and benzopyran-3-ols, with high to excellent chemo- and regioselectivity.