Deoxybenzoins from Stille carbonylative cross-couplings using molybdenum hexacarbonyl

Stille-type carbonylative cross-couplings, employing palladium catalysis and Mo(CO)₆ as the carbon monoxide carrier, were used for the preparation of deoxybenzoins. Straightforward transformations were conveniently performed in closed vessels at 100 °C, providing the products in good yields. Benzyl bromides and chlorides were used as coupling partners with aryl and heteroaryl stannanes. This mild three-component carbonylation employs the destabilizing agent DBU to promote smooth release of carbon monoxide from Mo(CO)₆, which made this protocol operationally simple and minimized the formation of Stille diarylmethane products.