Methods for synthesis of diarylmethanes

A method of forming a compound according to Formula I:

• the method comprising the steps of
• contacting an aryl halide of the formula:
• with at least one molar equivalent of a organozinc reagent, RZnY, and at least a catalytic amount of a palladium catalyst to form a C—C bond by a palladium mediated cross-coupling reaction;
• and
• contacting the product of the cross-coupling reaction with chloroformamidine under dry-fusion conditions to form a compound according to Formula I, wherein
• R is a benzyl residue of the formula —CH2C6H5-i(RA)i;
• RA is independently selected at each occurrence of RA from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxy, chloro, fluoro, C1-4fluoroalkyl, amino, mono and di(C1-6alkyl)amino, nitrile, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy, C1-6alkylthio, optionally substituted arylthio, optionally substituted heteroarylthio, optionally substituted aryl acetoxy or optionally substituted heteroaryl acetoxy;
• or
• or
• two adjacent RA groups taken in combination form a group of the formula:
• which may be optionally substituted;
• R3 is hydrogen;
• and
• i is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• Y is Cl, Br, I, or triflate.