Palladium-catalyzed direct benzylation of azoles with benzyl carbonates
"Chemical Equation Presented" The direct aromatic sp2 C-H benzylation of azole compounds with benzyl carbonates proceeds efficiently in the presence of a Pd2(dba)3/dppp catalyst system and KaOAc as a base to afford the corresponding diarylmethanes in good yields. In addition, the same palladium catalyst enables the direct benzylic sp3 C-H benzylation with the second benzyl carbonates without employing any external base.