Rh-catalyzed carbonylation of arylzinc compounds yielding symmetrical diaryl ketones by the assistance of oxidizing agents

Carbonylative homocoupling of arylzinc compounds 1 using 1 atm of CO and 1,2-dibromoethane as an oxidant was achieved in the presence of Rh-dppf catalyst, affording symmetrical diaryl ketones in good yields. Under similar conditions, Pd or Ni catalysts induced oxidative homocoupling of 1 to yield biaryls instead. The beneficial catalysis by Rh in the carbonylation was presumed to stem from the facility by which the migration of the aryl ligand to CO at the Rh³⁺ intermediate occurred.