Asymmetric Hydroarylation of Vinylarenes Using a Synergistic Combination of CuH and Pd Catalysis

Detailed in this Communication is the enantioselective synthesis of 1,1-diaryl­alkanes, a structure found in a range of pharmaceutical drug agents and natural products, through the employment of copper­(I) hydride and palladium catalysis. Judicious choice of ligand for both Cu and Pd enabled this hydroarylation protocol to work for an extensive array of aryl bromides and styrenes, including β-substituted vinylarenes and six-membered heterocycles, under relatively mild conditions.