Selective One-Pot Three-Step Cascade Reaction: From Aromatic Aldehydes to 2,2-Diphenylethanol Derivatives

Abstract

We report herein a green and scalable one-pot, three-step, pinacol-coupling–rearrangement–reduction cascade reaction useful for the formation of 2,2-diphenylethanol derivatives. The reaction is carried out in water in the presence of a commercially available and regenerable supported acid under moderate pressure. A dozen of aromatic aldehydes have been successfully submitted to the standard protocol giving the target 2,2-diarylethanol derivatives in good yield (70–85%).