Titanium Tetrachloride-mediated Synthesis of Diarylmethanes through the Reaction of Benzyl Alcohol Derivatives with Aromatic Substrates

Titanium tetrachloride has been successfully used in the benzylation of aromatic substrates with a series of benzyl alcohols under mild reaction conditions. With monosubstituted aromatic substrates, ortho and para-substituted products are obtained in almost comparable amounts. With sterically hindered benzyl alcohol derivatives almost exclusively para-substitution occurs.