Copper(II) acetate-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes.

A novel copper-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of carbinol derivatives has been developed. In the presence of copper(II) acetate and dppf, carbinol derivatives were prepared by the addition of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes in good to excellent yields. Moreover, the rigorous exclusion of air or moisture is not required in these transformations.