The oxidative coupling of benzylic compounds catalyzed by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-benzoquinone and sodium nitrite using molecular oxygen as a co-oxidant

An efficient coupling reaction of benzylic compounds and 1,3-dicarbonyls was catalyzed by DDQ and NaNO2 in the presence of molecular oxygen and HCOOH. The 1% catalytic amount of DDQ is enough to complete the reaction. The coupling products are obtained in good to excellent yields within half an hour.