Nickel-catalyzed 1,4-aryl rearrangement of aryl N -benzylimidates via C-O and C-H bond cleavage.

We report herein that nickel-catalyzed reaction of aryl imidates bearing an N -benzyl group results in 1,4-migration of an O -aryl group via the cleavage of C-O and C-H bonds. This protocol allows for the benzylic C-H bond arylation of benzylamine building blocks using phenols as an aryl source to form elaborate diarylmethylamine derivatives.