Efficient and selective alkylation of arenes and heteroarenes with benzyl and allyl ethers using a Ir/Sn bimetallic catalyst

A high-valent heterobimetallic catalyst namely [Ir2(COD)2(SnCl3)2(Cl)2(μ-Cl)2] (5 mol %), or dual catalyst system of [Ir(COD)Cl]2 (1 mol %) and SnCl4 (4 mol %), promotes the benzylation or allylation of arenes and heteroarenes using ethers as the alkylating agents. An electrophilic mechanism is proposed from a Hammett correlation.