1,6-Conjugate hydrogenation of para-quinone methides to phenol-containing diaryl- and triarylmethanes under atmospheric pressure catalyzed by a metal–ligand bifunctional iridium catalyst

• 1,6-Hydrogenation of para -quinone methides was performed under atmospheric pressure. • A series of diaryl- and triarylmethanes were obtained in high yields. • Functional groups in bpy lignad are crucially important for the activity of catalysts. • The practical application of the present catalytic system were presented. The 1,6-conjugate hydrogenation of para -quinone methides to diaryl- and triarylmethanes under atmospheric pressure has been proposed and accomplished. In the presence of [Cp*Ir(2,2′-bpyO)(H 2 O)] (0.5 mol %), a range of desirable products were obtained in high yields. Functional groups in bpy ligand were found to be crucially important for the catalytic activity of iridium complexes. Furthermore, the practical application of the present catalytic system was also presented.