Programmable Strategies for the Conversion of Aldehydes to Unsymmetrical (Deuterated) Diarylmethanes and Diarylketones

Herein, we present a versatile method for synthesizing unsymmetrical diarylmethanes and diarylketones from aldehydes and arenes. This involves: (1) regioselective Ar-H alkylation to form benzhydrylphosphonium salts via a one-pot, four-component reaction with simple reagents and (2) chemoselective reductions or oxidations of the benzylic C-P bond. Notably, reductions with D₂O yield fully deuterated diarylmethanes. This high-yielding, straightforward approach offers valuable building blocks and enables novel transformations for academic and pharmaceutical research.