Direct synthesis of completely unsymmetrical triarylmethanes via Fe(III) salt‐mediated in situ o‐quinone methides process

An efficient and straightforward synthetic approach to completely unsymmetrical triarylmethanes through the situ‐generated o‐quinone methides from readily available starting materials has been successfully developed. In the presence of an Fe(III) salt, three different aromatic rings, including salicylaldehydes, arylboronic acids, and arenes, were incorporated into one molecule in a single step under the base/ligand‐free conditions. The related reactions show high chemoselectivity and afford a variety of completely unsymmetrical triarylmethane products in good to excellent yields. An efficient and straightforward synthetic approach to completely unsymmetrical triarylmethanes through the in situ‐generated o‐quinone methides from simple readily available starting materials has been successfully developed.