Diarylation of Alkenes by a Cu-Catalyzed Migratory Insertion/Cross-Coupling Cascade

A strategy for the catalytic diarylation
of alkenes is presented.
The method involves the migratory insertion of alkenes into an Ar–Cu
complex to generate a new C­(sp3)–Cu complex, which
subsequently undergoes reaction with an aryl iodide to constitute
a vicinal diarylation of an alkene. The method provides access to
benzofuran- and indoline-containing products. Furthermore, highly
diastereoselective examples are presented, allowing access to complex,
stereochemically rich structures from simple alkene starting materials.