Strategies for the synthesis of bi- and triarylic materials starting from commercially available phenols

A series of arylstannanes have been synthesized, through an SRN1 mechanism, in good to excellent yields (74%–99%) by the photostimulated reaction of trimethyl stannyl ion with substrates supporting different nucleofugal groups. The arylstannanes thus obtained were suitable intermediates for Stille cross-coupling reactions leading to asymmetric bi- and triaryl compounds in acceptable global yields. An attractive feature of this route is that simple commercially available benzenediols, chloro- and methoxy phenols might be useful starting substrates, leading the latter to higher global yields of products in fewer steps. The strategies proposed open a broad synthetic tool.