Iron catalyzed tandem ring opening/1,6-conjugate addition of cyclopropanols with p-quinone methides: new access to γ,γ-diaryl ketones.

An iron(III) catalyzed tandem ring opening/1,6-conjugate addition of cyclopropanols to p-quinone methides leading to γ,γ-diaryl ketones has been described. This catalytic protocol provides a novel and efficient method to access γ,γ-diaryl ketone derivatives in good to excellent yields with high functional group tolerance. Importantly, γ,γ-diaryl ketone can be further functionalized to give a versatile set of useful products.