Rhodium-catalyzed arylation of α-amido sulfones with arylboronic acids in a water–toluene biphasic system

An efficient method for the synthesis of N-protected diaryl-methyl-amines was developed through a rhodium-catalyzed arylation of α-amido sulfones with arylboronic acids in a water–toluene biphasic system. The use of a base combined with a surfactant played a key role in this biphasic reaction. A diverse range of α-branched amine derivatives bearing different functional groups were obtained within 10 min under the present conditions.